DC Doorknock 2026: On the Ground in Washington DC!

Each year, AmCham China brings a delegation of China-based executives to Washington, DC, to listen, learn, and share on-the-ground perspectives. The week offers a unique opportunity to better understand how US policymaking maps to the realities of doing business in China.

The 2026 AmCham China DC Doorknock kicked off on Sunday, May 10, with a dinner and discussion with Ambassador Craig Allen (pictured above) of The Cohen Group at the historic Tabard Inn. Ambassador Allen was joined by his colleagues Vice President Dr. Qian Bai, and Associate Brian Grey. The group enjoyed a candid off-the-record discussion on the current state of US-China relations, DC perspectives, and predictions for President Trump’s visit to China this week.

Day One

The first full day of the Doorknock kicked off with an expert briefing from Dr. David Finkelstein of the Center for Naval Analyses and Dennis Wilder of Georgetown University’s Initiative for US-China Dialogue on Global Issues, hosted at the WilmerHale offices. The pair offered a substantive overview of US strategic thinking and military dynamics in the Indo-Pacific.

The delegation then headed to the US Department of the Treasury for a meeting with a group that included Mirea Grotz, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Trade and Investment Policy, and Robert Kaproth, Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for International Finance and Development.

For lunch, the group gathered at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) for a discussion hosted by Scott Kennedy, Senior Adviser and Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics; and joined by Jonathan Fritz, Former Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs; Edgard Kagan, Senior Adviser and Freeman Chair in China Studies; Robb Gordon, President and Managing Director of USITO; and several others. The conversation spanned economic, strategic, and regulatory dimensions of the US-China relationship.

In the afternoon, the delegation visited the Department of State, where they met with China Coordinator and Deputy Assistant Secretary Josh Young, Ambassador Marie Damour, who currently serves as the Bilateral Coordinator, and Neil Helbraun, Economic Chief at the Office of China Coordination.

Next, the delegation visited the Department of Commerce for a meeting with Thomas Bruns, Deputy Director General of the US and Foreign Commercial Service, and Suzanne Platt, China Desk Officer for Energy and Environmental Technologies.

The delegation wrapped up a packed first day at the opening reception of the 2026 China Business Conference at the US Chamber of Commerce. Now in its 16th year, the China Business Conference is co-hosted by AmCham China and the US Chamber and is the premier annual forum in the United States for exchanging views on US-China economic and commercial relations.

Day Two

Day Two took place on Tuesday, May 11, with the first full day of the 2026 China Business Conference at the US Chamber of Commerce. Now in its 16th year, the China Business Conference is co-hosted by AmCham China and the US Chamber and is the premier annual forum in the United States for exchanging views on US-China economic and commercial relations.

Alongside Jeremie Waterman from the US Chamber’s China Center, AmCham China Chairman James Zimmerman delivered opening remarks in which he acknowledged the reality of growing strategic competition between the US and China while emphasizing the importance of maintaining a stable, predictable, and results-oriented framework for bilateral engagement. He noted that American companies continue to view China as a critical market, warning that overly broad or unilateral measures risk undermining the global competitiveness of US businesses and creating opportunities for foreign competitors to fill the gap.

The conference’s opening panel, “Hold, Exit, or Double Down?: The Operating Environment for Foreign Business in China,” which was moderated by former AmCham China Chairman Jim McGregor and featured AmCham China President Michael Hart, AmCham Shanghai President Eric Zheng, and EU Chamber of Commerce in China Vice President Carlo D’Andrea featured a wide-ranging discussion on the impact of tariffs, export controls, supply chain diversification, and geopolitical tensions on foreign companies operating in China. Panelists emphasized that while businesses are adapting through “China+1” strategies and supply chain adjustments, China remains a critical market and manufacturing hub, with companies continuing to balance geopolitical risk against the need to remain globally competitive.

Speakers also stressed the importance of a successful US-China Presidential Summit this week in Beijing in providing greater stability and predictability for business planning, while warning that prolonged tensions could undermine the competitiveness of American firms in key sectors ranging from manufacturing to pharmaceuticals.

The remainder of the day’s program examined the political, economic, and strategic dimensions shaping the future of the US-China relationship. In keynote conversations, House Select Committee Chairman John Moolenaar and House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast discussed the growing bipartisan focus in Washington on strategic competition with China, including the implications for trade, technology, supply chains, and national security policy.

Panels throughout the afternoon explored China’s domestic political trajectory under Xi Jinping, the outlook for the Chinese economy amid slowing growth and strong exports, and the evolution of Beijing’s industrial policies through the upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan and “Made in China 2030.” Discussions also examined sector-specific competition in areas including biotechnology, AI, electric vehicles, and advanced manufacturing, as well as the strategic and economic risks associated with both action and inaction in managing the US-China relationship.

Day Three

On Day Three, the AmCham China delegation returned to the US Chamber of Commerce for the second and final day of the 16^th Annual China Business Conference, co-hosted by AmCham China and the US Chamber.

Building on the previous day’s sessions, the conference featured a full slate of high-level panels and discussions addressing the most pressing issues in the bilateral relationship. Conversations ranged from the near-term outlook for US-China trade to longer-term questions about technology competition, market access, and the evolving regulatory landscape in China.

Later in the day, the delegation was welcomed to the Chinese Embassy, where they met with Deputy Chief of Mission Qiu Wenxing and colleagues from the Embassy team. The delegates shared perspectives from the business community in China, and the group discussed the state of the commercial relationship.

Member Registration Forms

Member Registration Forms

Day One

Day Two

Day Three

Author: Norris Tangen