Debate Motion: This House believes that Trump will be better than Biden for US-China trade relations

Event Details

The US presidential election is taking place on 3 November, against the unprecedented backdrop of Covid-19. Joe Biden is polling ahead of incumbent Republican President Trump in key battleground states, but the latest polling shows that both a 'Biden landslide' or a 'narrow Trump win' are possible. Some say that, regardless of who wins, US policy towards China will be tougher, as thinking on both sides has changed.

While Trump continues to wage a trade war with China, Biden's position on China has also undergone a shift as he takes a tougher stance in US-China relations. Who will be better for China? Whose foreign policy would ameliorate the 'Cold War' between the US and China?

Join the British Chamber and AmCham China on Thursday 22nd Oct, where speakers will argue head-to-head whether Trump or Biden would improve or benefit US-China trade relations over the next five years.

Our Panel of Expert Debators

Jeremiah Jenne

Founder of Beijing by Foot

Joerg Wuttke

Vice President and Chief Representative at BASF China

James Zimmerman

Partner at Perkins Coie LLP

Peter Zysk

Director of Brunswick Group

Jörg Wuttke is Vice President and Chief Representative of BASF China, based in Beijing. Since joining BASF in 1997, Mr. Wuttke has been responsible for helping guide the company’s investment strategies for China, negotiation of large projects and government relations.

Previous to joining BASF, Mr. Wuttke worked with ABB for 11 years on the development and financing of large projects in China, Southeast Asia, Africa and Russia.

From 2001 to 2004 Mr. Wuttke was the Chairman of the German Chamber of Commerce in China. From 2007 to 2010, and 2014 to 2017 and again since May 2019 he is the President of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China

From 2011 to January 2020 Mr. Wuttke was Chairman of the BIAC China Task Force of the Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the OECD (BIAC), a Paris based body of major business associations that lobbies the OECD.

Since its establishment in 2013, Mr. Wuttke is member of the Advisory Board of Germany’s foremost Think Tank on China, Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS), in Berlin.

From 2013 to 2016, and again since 2019 Mr. Wuttke is Vice Chairman of the CPCIF International Cooperation Committee, a group representing Multinational Companies in China’s Chemical Association.

James Zimmerman is a partner in the Beijing office of Perkins Coie LLP and counsels foreign companies on corporate, transactional, regulatory, litigation, and white collar criminal defense matters in China. Jim is the author of the ABA’s China Law Deskbook, which is a go-to legal reference for companies conducting business in China. He was elected to four terms as chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce China, and is an active member in the foreign business community in Beijing. Jim has been practicing law for 30 years and has lived and worked in China since 1998. Jim has amassed industry experience that ranges from media, hospitality, automotive, aviation, medical devices, pharmaceutical, petroleum and financial services. Jim helps clients overcome the complexities of doing business in China’s market and guides clients in navigating domestic regulatory regimes; securing approvals from the government; and enlisting the support of government authorities for modifications and enhancements to prevailing legal processes, standards and measures. He has developed special expertise of assisting individuals detained and prosecuted under China’s broad and ambiguous national security and state secrecy laws and regulations, including a number of high-profile and politically sensitive cases. Jim has received long-standing recognition as one of China’s leading business lawyers from such publications as the Asialaw Leading Lawyers Survey, in the areas of Chinese law, dispute resolution and general corporate law, and The Legal 500 Asia Pacific: The Guide to Asia’s Commercial Law Firms in the area of corporate/M&A for foreign law firms in China. Jim is an in-demand presenter, media commentator and author on issues related to US-China relations and the operational environment for foreign companies conducting business in China, and his OpEd articles have been published in such publications as the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, the South China Morning Post, and the China Daily.

Peter is a data-driven strategist who leads Brunswick Insight’s Asia practice, which provides opinion research and analytics for business-critical decisions.
Peter helps clients build better engagement programs that are grounded in data and insight. He advises leading Chinese companies on their international expansion strategies and works with multinational companies to strengthen their positioning in Asia.
Peter is an expert on international public opinion of Chinese companies. He is the author of Brunswick’s China Going Global research series and is frequently quoted in Chinese and international media about trends impacting Chinese companies operating overseas.
Before joining Brunswick’s Beijing team, Peter was in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office where he helped to build the opinion research practice in the U.S.
Peter holds a Master’s degree in International Affairs from American University’s School of International Service and Bachelor’s degrees in Journalism and Asian Studies from Gonzaga University.

Sides to be picked on the day.

BritCham Quarterly Debate

The British Chamber hosts oxford university style debates (Chatham house rules) once every quarter to which it's a fun/ unique way of approaching tough topics. The concept... it's a pure debate, we have 4 debaters, 2 for the motion and 2 against. The arguments from the speaker's doesn't have to express personal or professional opinions it's all about winning the argument! Previous debate motions; 'COVID-19 will reverse globalisation', 'in the US- China trade war the UK needs to pick a side, 'Brexit will be good for trade relations with China', 'in the long term Olympics are never good for the host city'.

Event Format

The moderator will begin proceedings by explaining the premise of the debate, the rules and by taking an initial vote
Opening Remarks: After the initial vote, the debaters present their opening remarks one at a time (3 mins each). Representatives from each side alternate in sharing their points
Intra-Panel Discussion: Following opening remarks, the debaters engage with one another directly. The discussion is guided by arguments from opening statements and questions from the moderator.
Question-and-Answer Period: During this portion of the debate, audience members have the opportunity to ask the debaters questions regarding the motion.
Closing Remarks: Following the question-and-answer section, the debaters deliver separate 2-minute closing arguments.
A final vote is then taken. The winning team will be the one that produces the largest swing in opinion from the room.

Check out JingA's newest brewpub at the center of Beijing CBD ! Tickets include a drink and discount on food and drinks menu!

BritCham Member

1 drink included

Member PriceRMB 120

AmCham Members

1 drink included

Public PriceRMB 120

Non-members

1 drink included

Public PriceRMB 200

British Chamber of Commerce in China

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