U.S.-China Dynamics

Legislative Implications for 2018

On January 25, 2018, the National Bureau of Asian Research and US-China Business Council in conjunction with the Senate U.S.-China Working Group presented a Senate staff roundtable Discussion on ” U.S.-China Dynamics: Legislative Implications for 2018.”

The United States and China will continue to deal with critical topics this year, including trade relationships, the Korean peninsula crisis, and security concerns. The United States is expected to conclude an investigation into alleged unfair Chinese trade practices this year, and will also be looking to increase Chinese participation in sanctions aimed at North Korea. U.S. businesses in China will be keenly watching both of these developments in 2018. Meanwhile, December’s National Security Strategy has identified China as a major competitor of the United States, which poses opportunities and problems for future policy with Beijing. This briefing provided staffers with an understanding of the evolving economic and security considerations between the United States and China, and offered recommendations on how Congress might respond to changes in this relationship.

Panelist Bios

Erin Ennis has been Senior Vice President of the US-China Business Council since February 2015, after serving as Vice President since 2005. In that position, she directs USCBC’s government affairs and advocacy work for member companies and oversees USCBC’s Business Advisory Services. She also leads a coalition of other trade associations on issues of interest to companies doing business with China.

Prior to joining USCBC, Ms. Ennis worked at Kissinger McLarty Associates, where she was responsible for implementing strategies for international business clients on proprietary trade matters, primarily in Vietnam and Japan.

Before entering the private sector, Ms. Ennis held several positions in the U.S. Government. From 1992 to 1996, Ms. Ennis was a legislative aide to former Senator John Breaux, working on international trade and commerce.

At the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative from 1996 to 2000, Ms. Ennis first worked in Congressional Affairs on Asia issues, including annual approvals of China’s most favored nation status and the ill-fated 1997 push to renew presidential “fast track” negotiating authority. Beginning in 1998, she was assistant to Deputy US Trade Representative Richard Fisher, who led US trade negotiations and enforcement with Asia, the Americas, and on intellectual property rights.

Ms. Ennis has a BA from Mount Holyoke College and a Masters in International Affairs from Catholic University.

Roy D. Kamphausen is Senior Vice President for Research and Director of the D.C. office at The National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR). Mr. Kamphausen is an adjunct associate professor at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and a senior adviser on East Asia for the University of Connecticut’s Office of Global Affairs. He lectures regularly at leading U.S. military institutions, including the United States Military Academy and the U.S. Army War College.

Prior to joining NBR, Mr. Kamphausen served as a career U.S. Army officer. As a China foreign area officer, his career included assignments as China policy director in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, China strategist for the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and a military attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing.

Mr. Kamphausen holds a BA in Political Science from Wheaton College and an MA in International Affairs from Columbia University. He studied Chinese at both the Defense Language Institute and Beijing’s Capital Normal University.

The bipartisan Senate U.S.-China Working Group is co-chaired by Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Steve Daines (R-MT), and Mazie Hirono (D-HI).