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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