US-China Decoupling in Supply Chain and Implications for Business

Event Details

Over the years, China has been the manufacturing base for many multinational companies thanks to the world factory's abundance of cheap labor and world class infrastructure. As China moved up the value chain, companies have gradually moved their low end production lines to ASEAN markets. However, China remains an important market as the world's largest consumer economy in purchasing power parity; multinational companies have adopted "In China, For China" strategy to serve the local market.

Companies have been hit hard by two perfect storms: 1) decoupling pressure as a result of US-China trade tension and 2) the COVID-19 pandemic that has disrupted global supply chains. More recently, China's prolonged zero COVID-19 policy has put more pressure on the business operation. According to AmCham China Flash Survey on COVID-19 business impact conducted in May, 61% of respondents express that the omicron outbreak is challenging supply chains due to disruptions to transportation and shipping networks.

Is US-China decoupling in supply chain underway? To what extent has China's zero COVID policy impacted global supply chains? Will or has local Chinese governments put in place policies to alleviate supply chain disruption?

Please join this 6th session of China Insight Series as trade expert, Frank Lavin, and supply chain specialist, Jarrod Ward discuss the future role of China in the global supply chain.

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Speakers

Frank Lavin

Chairman & CEO of Export Now

Jarrod Ward

Chief Business Development Officer for East Asia at Yusen Logistics

Sally Peng (Moderator)

Managing Director of FTI Consulting (Hong Kong) Limited

Frank Lavin has 30 years of experience helping companies succeed in China, through leadership roles in banking, marketing, and diplomacy. In government, Frank served as Ambassador to Singapore and Undersecretary of Commerce for International Trade. In the latter role, he was lead trade negotiator for both China and India and was the senior policy official, responsible for commercial policy, export promotion and trade negotiations.

In the private sector, Frank was most recently an Asia practice leader at Edelman, and prior to that, he worked in senior finance and management positions in Hong Kong and Singapore with Bank of America and Citibank. Frank also served as Chairman of the Steering Committee of the USA Pavilion at the Shanghai 2010 World Expo. Frank is the co-author of “Export Now” (Wiley).

Frank earned a B.S. from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University; an M.S. in Chinese Language from Georgetown University; an M.A. in International Relations and International Economics from the School of Advanced International Studies at the Johns Hopkins University; and an M.B.A. in Finance at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Frank regularly contributes to Forbes, writing about China digital strategy and this market’s evolving landscape.

Sally has extensive experience advising public-listed companies on their complex encryption programs under US and Hong Kong laws. She also advises several China-based clients regarding US sanctions regulations and has performed on-site impact analysis. In addition, she works closely with her clients’ legal, procurement and logistics teams to build best-in-class Export Control and Sanction compliance programs. Her industry coverage includes banks, telecommunications, national defense contractors, heavy machinery, and research universities.

Sally has been a trusted advisor for many MNCs on their international trade and customs issues. She served as team leader for several global retailers in large-scale customs duty-saving projects in over ten Asian countries. She also assisted multiple Asia-based companies in defending antidumping and countervailing cases with US Department of Commerce and US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). During the on-going US-China trade war, Sally is sought after by her clients to advise them on mitigating strategies against US section 301 and 232 retaliation tariffs, free trade agreements, trade preference programmes and country of origin issues. Her industry coverage includes apparel, footwear, handbag & leather goods, hardline goods and consumer electronics.

Sally takes her passion for international trade beyond individual companies, having participated in negotiations of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), as well as serving as a key member on numerous trade missions, including to Vietnam, Cambodia, Bangladesh, and various African countries. She is also highly involved in the AmCham HK, as Co-Chair of the Apparel, Footwear & Supply Chain Committee. She is also a Senior Advisor to the Hong Kong General Chamber of Textiles.