The Eighth China International Import Expo (CIIE) opened in Shanghai on November 5, bringing together 4,108 overseas exhibitors from 155 countries, regions and international organizations.   

Seven years ago, the CIIE became the world’s first national-level import-focused exposition, a gateway for businesses around the world to enter the China market. In an interview with Beijing Review at the event, Michael Hart, President of the American Chamber of Commerce in China (AmCham China), shared his insights on how the expo has provided a platform for China and the U.S. to deepen trade connections.  

“The CIIE helps us understand how interconnected our economies are,” he said, noting that the event gives U.S. and other foreign firms a chance to not only launch new products but also engage with Chinese officials and customers in person.   

Hart, who has worked in China for nearly 30 years, underscored the stabilizing role of business ties in helping to ease frictions between the two countries. “Companies are the ballast of this relationship,” he said, adding that AmCham China members have remained committed to the Chinese market despite the many ups and downs in politics and the broader economy. 

He also pointed to China’s evolution into not only a key manufacturing base but also a major consumer market and innovation hub. “Many of our companies today have told us that they are innovating in China and, in some cases, have launched their products in China before they launch them in the rest of the world,” he said.  

Looking ahead, Hart emphasized the need for a transparent, regular and stable policy environment to support long-term planning by foreign businesses. Trade frictions, he noted, make it more difficult for companies to fully participate in the market.  

“It is important that both countries work together so that we have a clear, long-term understanding of what the policies will be,” he said.  

Copyedited by G.P. Wilson  

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