ASU forum tackles U.S.-China trade relations

by Craig Harris - Mar. 1, 2009 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic

For two days, Arizona State University and a Scottsdale foundation brought 26 people with expertise in international trade, business and law to a resort ballroom to create a blueprint for the United States and China to engage in long-term economic development.

The first of three Forums on Trade, China and the World Economic Order ended Friday, and it came at a time when trade relations between the two countries have become frayed.

The U.S. has made accusations of unfair trade practices in China as the deficit last year reached a record $266 billion, and there have been concerns over the safety of Chinese exports and human-rights violations there. China, meanwhile, has been upset with what it believes is protectionism in America as the U.S. struggles through a deep recession.

The goal of the forum was to develop a "white paper" on the challenges facing the two countries, and then develop recommendations from forums that will be held in Beijing in September and in Washington, D.C., in November. The events coincide with the 30th anniversary of China's open-door policy.

"What we are doing here is reshaping the question so we don't fall back into protectionism and fall back to the way things used to be where everyone played with their own marbles and hunkered down," ASU President Michael Crow said.

Crow said ASU spearheaded the effort because international trade is important to the U.S. and Arizona, and the university has the "expertise and capability" to work on the problem.

The Kearny Alliance, a foundation that works to advance international trade and alleviate poverty, helped sponsor the event, which included Scottsdale-based TPI Composites Chief Executive Steven Lockard, whose company builds wind turbine blades and has a plant in China.

During the two days discussions centered around the World Trade Organization, public policy and doing business in China.

Peter Yam, an advisor to St. Louis-based Emerson, a global technology and engineering company, said he didn't know what to expect when he came to the forum. But the former president of Emerson's China operations said he left feeling the group was "moving in the right direction" to help the U.S. and China.

"Today, China is more important in the world economic landscape," Yam said. "Maybe 30 years ago China wasn't as important, but today China is a major part of the global economy, and it's important to have engagement and dialog to work together on mutual benefits."

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