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.

To hear on-the-ground takeaways and key updates from the DC Doorknock, click here to join the upcoming briefing with Chamber leadership.

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.

Day Four

Day Four of the 2026 AmCham China DC Doorknock featured a full day of meetings on Capitol Hill and discussions with policymakers and advisors focused on the evolving US-China relationship and the operating environment for American businesses in China.

The day began with the delegation splitting into two groups. Team Red met with Representative Keith Self (R-TX), while Team Blue met with the office of Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH).

The full delegation later reconvened for a discussion with Senator Steve Daines (R-MT), who shared insights from the recent bipartisan Senate delegation visit to China, including reflections on engagements in Beijing and broader bilateral dynamics.

Delegates also met with Representative Darin LaHood (R-IL) and Representative Rick Larsen (D-WA), co-chairs of the Congressional US-China Working Group, to exchange perspectives on the current state and future direction of US-China economic relations.

In the afternoon, the delegation divided into teams again for additional meetings with congressional offices and advisors. Team Red met with Representative Young Kim (R-CA), Walter Lohman, National Security Advisor for Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK), and Zach Hosford, National Security Advisor for Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI). Team Blue met with the office of Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA), including former US-China Business Council Senior Vice President Jake Parker, as well as David Grannis, Senior Policy Advisor for Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA), and colleagues from the office of Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ), including former National Security Council China Director Laura Rosenberger.

Following ten meetings on Capitol Hill, the delegation visited The Asia Group for a discussion hosted by Ambassador Daniel Kritenbrink and colleagues on recent developments in the US-China relationship, the delegation’s engagements throughout the week, and the ongoing presidential summit in Beijing.

The day concluded with a reception at WilmerHale welcoming USITO’s new Managing Director Robert Gordon.

Day Five

Day Five began with a visit to the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission, where the group met with commissioners Jonathan Stivers, Reva Price, and Leland Miller for an in-depth discussion on the challenges and complexities shaping the US-China bilateral relationship.

The delegation then visited RAND Corporation for a wide-ranging conversation with Jude Blanchette, Salman Ahmed, Rachel Lyngaas, Howard Schatz, Jimmy Goodrich, and colleagues on the strategic, economic, and technological dimensions of the relationship.

After lunch, the group visited the Brookings Institution, hosted by Ryan Hass alongside fellow experts Kyle Chan, Kenneth Lieberthal, and others, for a thoughtful exchange on the future trajectory of US-China relations, industrial policy, and areas for potential cooperation and competition.

The day concluded at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), where the delegation met with Trade Counsel and Associate Administrator Jason Hafemeister to discuss agricultural trade, food security, and the continued importance of commercial engagement between the two countries.

2026 DC Doorknock- Day Five Highlights 3

As the 2026 DC Doorknock comes to a close, the week once again demonstrated the value of candid dialogue and sustained engagement. Through conversations with policymakers, experts, and stakeholders across Washington, the delegation gained deeper insight into the evolving US-China relationship while sharing practical perspectives from the business community operating on the ground in China.

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