12th CCG VIP Luncheon on the Tariff War
On Wednesday, April 16, the Center for China and Globalization (CCG) held its 12th CCG VIP Luncheon, and the 2nd of its 2025 series, at the Beijing International Club. Focusing on a pressing global issue, the event explored the theme: “The Multi-dimensional Impacts of Global Trade Uncertainty: Transmission Effects of Tariff Policies on Industrial Chains, SMEs, and Consumers.”The luncheon was moderated by Dr. Henry Huiyao WANG, President of CCG and Former Counsellor of the State Council, and featured keynote speeches by Ma Jianchun, President of the China World Trade Organisation Research Association and former Director-General of the Department of Foreign Affairs at the Ministry of Commerce, and Cui Fan, Professor at the School of International Trade and Economics at the University of International Business and Economics and Deputy Secretary-General and Director of Research at the CWTO.
The event attracted over 50 distinguished guests from political, business, and academic circles, both from China and abroad, who gathered to discuss how to navigate challenges and seize opportunities amid the evolving landscape of international trade. Among the participants were ambassadors to China from 13 countries — including Austria, Barbados, Belgium, the European Union, Finland, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, and Romania — as well as diplomatic representatives from 10 other countries, including Canada, Croatia, Germany, Japan, India, Indonesia, Poland, Singapore, South Africa, and Switzerland. The event also welcomed representatives of international organizations in China, senior executives from multinational corporations, and prominent media figures from both domestic and international outlets.
Recently, the U.S. government has intensified its unilateral tariff measures, significantly raising tariffs on goods from multiple countries, including China, sparking turbulence in global markets. This luncheon aimed to provide a high-level platform for dialogue, bringing together senior Chinese experts and international representatives from various sectors at a critical moment in China-U.S. relations. The discussion offered in-depth analysis of the potential impact of U.S. trade protectionist policies and insightful perspectives on safeguarding the multilateral trade system and promoting the stable development of the global economy.
At the opening of the event, CCG Secretary-General Dr. Mabel Lu Miao delivered a welcome address, thanking all guests for their presence. She noted that the “CCG VIP Luncheon” aims to share China’s latest developments and promote international exchange with embassies, international organizations, business communities, and academia. This session focused on the complex impacts of global trade uncertainty and the importance of multilateral cooperation and policy coordination in addressing current challenges. Dr. Mabel Lu Miao introduced the two distinguished speakers and welcomed a wide range of guests from various sectors, before inviting CCG President Dr. Henry Huiyao WANG to moderate the discussion.
CCG President Dr. Henry Huiyao WANG opened the event by introducing the “CCG VIP Luncheon”series, noting its success since launching last year. He highlighted the global challenges from trade tensions and uncertainties, and expressed hope the event would foster dialogue and shared understanding. He also welcomed two distinguished experts to offer insights on U.S.-China trade friction and global trade dynamics, and encouraged guests to share their views.
During the speakers’presentations session, MA Jianchun, Chairman of the CWTO, Former Director-General of the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Ministry of Commerce, CCG Non-resident Senior Fellow, emphasized the importance of preserving the multilateral trading system, particularly through the WTO. He criticized the rise of unilateralism and trade protectionism, notably from the U.S., which has imposed tariffs on numerous countries, weakening the WTO’s authority. He stressed that such policies threaten global trade stability, particularly for smaller economies. He called for unity among WTO members to uphold multilateral rules and resolve disputes within the WTO framework, ensuring fair trade practices and global economic stability.
CUI Fan, Professor at the School of International Trade and Economics, University of International Business and CCG Non-resident Senior Fellow, expressed strong support for China’s retaliatory tariffs, emphasizing that they not only protect China’s interests but also uphold the principles of the multilateral trading system. He argued that China’s tough stance disrupted the U.S.’s tariff plans and helped other countries, such as Vietnam, improve their bargaining positions. He stressed the importance of maintaining WTO rules, particularly the Most Favoured Nation principle, to prevent the erosion of the global trading system. He called for continued resistance to discriminatory tariffs and the protection of WTO principles.
During the Q&A session, several distinguished guests, including H.E. Dan-Horia Maxim, Ambassador of Romania; H.E. Vebjørn Dysvik, Ambassador of Norway; H.E. Jorge Toledo, Ambassador of the European Union; Jens Hildebrandt, Vice President, Government Relations China, BASF; H.E. Rol Reiland, Ambassador of Luxembourg; Stefan Bernhart, Vice President, European Union Chamber of Commerce in China; and Onodera Osamu, Chief Representative for China & Northeast Asia, Director-General of the Beijing office of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), posed insightful questions. The topics addressed covered a range of significant issues, including WTO reform, China’s foreign opening-up policy, the impact of the China-U.S. trade war, China’s support for countries in the Global South, and the challenges faced by EU businesses.
The luncheon provided a valuable opportunity for dialogue within the international community, offering important insights for policymakers, business leaders, and academics. The event concluded successfully in an atmosphere of active engagement, with participants posing insightful questions and sharing perspectives. Attendees agreed that such dialogue platforms are of significant importance in fostering international cooperation and addressing shared challenges.
Ambassadors of Countries (in alphabetical order of countries):
H.E. Andreas Riecken, Ambassador of Austria
H.E. Hallam Henry, Ambassador of Barbados
H.E. Bruno Angelet, Ambassdor of Belgium
H.E. Jorge Toledo, Ambassador of the European Union
H.E. Mikko Kinnunen, Ambassador of Finland
H.E. Thorir Ibsen, Ambassador of Iceland
H.E. Irit Ben Abba, Ambassador of Israel
H.E. Massimo Ambrosetti, Ambassador of Italy
H.E. Rol Reiland, Ambassador of Luxembourg
H.E. Jonathan Austin, Ambassador of New Zealand
H.E. Vebjørn Dysvik, Ambassador of Norway
H.E. Paulo Jorge Nascimento, Ambassador of Portugal
H.E. Dan-Horia Maxim, Ambassador of Romania
Diplomatic Representatives (in alphabetical order of countries):
Ian Medcalf, Counsellor for Trade Policy, Embassy of Canada
Maja Frankovic, Economic Counselor, Embassy of Croatia
Thomas Weithöner, Head of Economic Department, Embassy of Germany
Yamada Yoshiyuki, Minister of Economic Section, Embassy of Japan
Gautam Kumar Pandey, First Secretary & Head of Trade & Commerce Wing, Embassy of India
Elizani T. X. Nadia Sumampouw, Minister Counsellor of Economy, Embassy of Indonesia
Katarzyna Wilkowiecka, Minister-Counsellor, Embassy of Poland
KOW Juan Tiang, Executive Director of the China Division at Enterprise Singapore
Mpume Mnguni, First Secretary, Embassy of South Africa
Estelle Vuichard, Deputy Head of the Economic Section, Embassy of Switzerland
International Organizations (in alphabetical order of organizations):
Denis Simon, President, Alliance of Global Talent Organizations
QIN Hu, Vice President, Chief Representative of Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) China
TamasHajba, Senior Advisor for China, OECD
Business Council Representatives (in alphabetical order of organizations):
Mathias Boyer, National Chair, Danish Chamber of Commerce in China
Stefan Bernhart, Vice President, European Union Chamber of Commerce in China
Onodera Osamu, Chief Representative for China & Northeast Asia, Director-General of the Beijing office of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO)
Enterprise Representatives (in alphabetical order of organizations):
Jens Hildebrandt, Vice President, Government Relations China, BASF
Deborah Lehr, Vice Chair, The Paulson Institute; Chair and CEO, Basilinna Advisory LLC
Gracie Sun, Founding Partner and President for China, Basilinna Advisory LLC
WU An, Director of the Office of Beijing International Club
David Duan, BMW China Government Affairs
Andre Yu, Executive Analyst, Eni China
SHI Guang, Chairman of Fu Liancheng (Tianjin) Cultural Arts Co., Ltd
June Wang, Communication Director, GE Aerospace Greater China
Jerry Guo, Managing Director of KKR
LIN Yuan, Senior Manager of Sun Hung Kai Properties
Colin Yang, Special Assistant to the Chairman of the Board, Trina Solar
Roberta Lipson, Founder of United Family Healthcare
Media Representatives (in alphabetical order of organizations):
LIU Jiaxin, Journalist, CGTN
MA Tong, Journalist, Global Times
Saikawa Rempei, Editor in Chief, China General Bureau, Kyodo News
The “CCG VIP Luncheon” series, initiated and hosted by the Center for China and Globalization (CCG), aims to establish a premier platform for international exchange in Beijing in the post-pandemic era. This event series is designed to introduce China’s latest development prospects and policies to embassies, international organizations, multinational companies, chambers of commerce, and academic experts in China. It also seeks to provide forward-looking predictions on China’s development prospects and explore cooperation between China and the rest of the world on globally significant issues.
