This panel will explore the current state and future prospects of U.S.-China commercial relations, featuring insights from experts Kenneth Jarrett, Senior Advisor at Albright Stonebridge Group, Craig Allen, President of US-China Business Council and Harry Hui. The session will discuss the evolving business environment in China, key challenges and opportunities for American companies, and the broader implications of geopolitical tensions on bilateral trade. Panelists will provide perspectives on how U.S. and Chinese businesses can navigate these complexities while fostering collaboration. The discussion will also highlight strategies for maintaining strong commercial ties amid regulatory and market shifts.
Craig Allen, President, US-China Business Council
On July 26, 2018, Craig Allen began his tenure in Washington, DC as the president of the US-China Business Council (USCBC), a private, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization representing over 270 American companies doing business with China. Prior to joining USCBC, Craig had a long, distinguished career in US public service.
Craig began his government career in 1985 at the Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration (ITA). From 1986 to 1988, he was an international economist in ITA’s China Office. In 1988, Craig transferred to the American Institute in Taiwan, where he served as Director of the American Trade Center in Taipei. He held this position until 1992, when he returned to the Department of Commerce for a three-year posting at the US Embassy in Beijing as Commercial Attaché.
In 1995, Craig was assigned to the US Embassy in Tokyo, where he served as a Commercial Attaché. In 1998, he was promoted to Deputy Senior Commercial Officer. In 1999, Craig became a member of the Senior Foreign Service. From 2000, Craig served a two-year tour at the National Center for APEC in Seattle. In 2002, it was back to Beijing, where Craig served as the Senior Commercial Officer. In Beijing, Craig was promoted to the Minister Counselor rank of the Senior Foreign Service.
After a four-year tour in South Africa, Craig became Deputy Assistant Secretary for Asia at the US Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration. He later became Deputy Assistant Secretary for China. Craig was sworn in as the United States ambassador to Brunei Darussalam on December 19, 2014.
Craig received a B.A. from the University of Michigan in Political Science and Asian Studies in 1979. He received a Master of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University in 1985.
Harry Hui, Founder and Managing Partner, ClearVue Partners
Harry is a versatile corporate leader in Asia, with a career spanning senior positions in consumer products marketing, entertainment, media, and private equity. Over the past 25 years, as chief executive officer, investor, and TV producer, Harry has signed some of the most prominent Asian Artists, written and produced multiple number one rated TV shows, invested in several “unicorn” companies and early investor of crypto currency.
Harry is the founder and managing partner of ClearVue Partners (cvpcap.com). Formed in Shanghai in 2011, CVP is a private equity firm investing in China and Asia’s consumption, technology and technology, AI and Robotics. In 2022, CVP partnered with Nolimit holdings (nolimitholdings.xyz) to invest in global digital assets and blockchain.
Previously, Harry served as the chief marketing officer and head of Pepsico Investment (China) limited and head of CSR strategy for PepsiCo’s China Beverages division from 2007 to 2011. Before PepsiCo, Harry spent five years as president of Universal Music SE Asia, the world’s largest music company. From 1998 to 2002, Harry was EVP and MD, North Asia at MTV Networks Asia.
Harry has been a popular speaker at numerous global conferences. Harry received an M.B.A. from USC and BA from SUNY Albany. Today, he resides between Hong Kong and Shanghai, China, with his wife and three children.
Kenneth Jarrett, Senior Advisor, Albright Stonebridge Group
Kenneth Jarrett is a Senior Advisor with the Albright Stonebridge Group, a strategic advisory firm based in Washington, DC. He previously served as President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai from September 2013 to December 2018. Prior to that he was the Greater China Chairman for APCO Worldwide, a Washington-based public affairs consultancy from 2008 to 2013, and before that a U.S. diplomat from 1982 to 2008.
During Kenneth’s 26-year diplomatic career, his postings included Consul General in Shanghai, Deputy Consul General in Hong Kong, and Director of Asian Affairs at the White House National Security Council. He also served in Beijing, Chengdu, Singapore, and had several assignments in Washington, DC.
Kenneth has degrees from Cornell University, Yale University and the National War College. He is a frequent commentator on the business environment in China, and has been quoted in outlets including Bloomberg, the Economist, the Financial Times, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Forbes and the Los Angeles Times among others. Kenneth is the recipient of the Magnolia Award (Silver) from the Shanghai government and is a member of the National Committee for US-China Relations.
Brian A. Wong (Moderator), Chairman and Founder, RADII Media
Brian A. Wong is an entrepreneur, investor, and author whose career has spanned e-commerce, education, and digital media. As the first American and 52nd employee to join Alibaba Group in 1999, Brian contributed to the company’s early globalization efforts in various business roles, such as head of international marketing and business development, and vice president of global sales. He also served as Special Assistant to founder Jack Ma, Executive Director of the Alibaba Global Leadership Academy, and as Group Vice President where he led the Alibaba Global Initiatives (AGI) team. With AGI, he developed and led capacity building programs for entrepreneurs, universities, and government leaders in emerging markets from Africa to Asia with the purpose of sharing how the digital economy can create a more inclusive society for all. Brian’s award-winning book, The Tao of Alibaba (Hachette, 2022), codifies many of these management principles and has become an invaluable reference for entrepreneurs, business leaders, and policymakers.
Today, Brian is Founder and Chairman of RADII (www.radii.co), a leading digital media company dedicated to bridging the understanding between youth in the east and west. Brian was previously an executive with the McGraw-Hill Companies, and served as Special Assistant to San Francisco Mayor Willie L. Brown. Brian has been an advisor to various governments on e-commerce strategies and has been featured as a speaker at conferences such as the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos, WEF ASEAN and Africa Forums, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) eCommerce Week, and the B20 Business Summit.
Brian was selected as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2015. He is a China Aspen Fellow and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network, a member of the Thinkers50 Radar Class of 2023, as well as a Committee of 100 Board member.