The WSCRC congratulates Nelson Dong, a board member and former Chairman of the Washington State China Relations Council, on being selected by the Puget Sound Business Journal as one of their eight “Directors of Year” for 2021. The board members are recognized for their outstanding contributions to a range of companies and non-profits across the region and beyond.

The PJBJ noted that “these directors have helped navigate their companies through challenging times. They were nominated by their peers as standout board members and leaders and include members of corporate and nonprofit boards”.

In selecting Nelson as one of the “Directors of the Year”, the paper cited Nelson’s continuing service to the Washington State China Relations Council and in particular his efforts to have the Council adjust and adapt with the onset of the pandemic. Nelson has been instrumental in the Council’s move to producing well-recognized webinars on China related topics that impact our community from the introduction of the new national security law in Hong Kong to the rise of Asia Hate Crimes in the Puget Sound Region. Nelson, in his role a member of the Council’s Executive Committee and Government Affairs Committee has helped to raise the profile of the Council and increase its influence.

Read the PSBJ’s full story “Nelson Dong: ‘Now, more than ever, U.S. businesses need to remain active in their various trade associations'”

The U.S. China Business Council (USCBC), in coordination with the WSCRC, has interviewed a number of WSCRC member companies to understand the importance of the China market to these firms, as part of its “50 States, 50 Stories” initiative. The first of the Washington State story, an interview with John Melin – the CEO of Brown and Haley, is now available. Tacoma-based Brown and Haley is the legendary candy maker who created “Almond Roca”. In the article John explains how Brown and Haley developed their business in China, how the company has adapted its product line to meet the needs of Chinese consumers. and how they have responded to impacts from the trade war and the pandemic.

Read the full article “In Pursuit of a Billion Sweet Tooths“.

WSCRC Member Spencer Cohen, along with recent WSCRC webinar panelist Badri Narayanan. G., recently penned an editorial in the South China Morning Post. Titled New alliances, not tariffs, are key to US trade strategy on China, the op-ed calls for the U.S. to take a multi-lateral approach to solving trade problems with China. The authors argues that by building alliances and consensus among like-minded nations, the U.S. can rebuild and strengthen the rules of the road for China to observe.