Chinese Business and Economics

The Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics provides unmatched thought leadership for the Washington policy community by examining China’s economy and the costs and benefits of its commercial relationship with the United States and the rest of the world.

We go beyond the headlines to examine Chinese sectoral trends and industrial policy, the behavior of its companies and financial institutions, trade and supply chains, and the political economy of CleanTech and climate governance. With our rigorous empirical and data-driven research, we put forward proposals for how the United States and others can adopt smart policies that account for economic tradeoffs in an era defined by both deep interdependence and strategic competition.

Our analysis is shared with the policy community, business leaders, scholars, and the public through reports and commentaries, interactive digital content, and events. We generate new conversations among these stakeholders by convening discussions on the factors influencing their decisions.

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Meet Our Experts

Learn more about the Trustee Chair and the network of experts, staff, and non-resident affiliates who contribute to our analysis.

Contact Information

Isabella McCallum
Program Manager, Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics
IMcCallum@csis.org

Media Queries

Sofia Chavez
Media Relations Manager, External Relations
202.775.7317
SChavez@csis.org

Featured

Diversifying, Not Decoupling

The CSIS Trustee Chair’s second formal survey of over 600 Taiwanese companies reveals they remain worried about the international environment and conditions in China, but are engaged in diversifying rather than fully decoupling their business from China.

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Report by Scott Kennedy and Andrea Leonard Palazzi — September 9, 2024

Featured Analysis

Photo: Mark Donaldson, Gina Kim, and Sarah B. Grace with modified Adobe Stock illustrations

The Electric Vehicle Playbook for Emerging Markets

Emerging markets are becoming EV leaders with sales rising rapidly in the past two years. Governments are seeking to shape the future of the auto industry as they balance their EV adoption goals, industrial strategies, and reliance on China.

Digital Report by Ilaria Mazzocco and Ryan Featherston — October 22, 2025

The Global EV Shift: The Role of China and Industrial Policy in Emerging Economies

Report by Ilaria Mazzocco and Ryan Featherston — October 22, 2025

Photo: Qilai Shen/Bloomberg/Getty Images

Experts React: U.S.-China Relations Heading into a Likely Summit

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Commentary by Thomas J. Christensen, Jeannette Chu, Brian Hart, Scott Kennedy, Henrietta Levin, and Ilaria Mazzocco — October 6, 2025

Photo: CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP/Getty Images

Assessing China’s New Climate Commitments

Critical Questions by Ilaria Mazzocco and Deborah Seligsohn — October 2, 2025

Involution and Industry Self-Discipline: Echoes from the Past

Blog Post by Scott Kennedy — September 17, 2025

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Featured Microsite

Big Data China

Big Data China is a collaboration between the CSIS Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics and the Stanford Center on China’s Economy and Institutions (SCCEI) dedicated to bridging the gap between cutting-edge quantitative academic research and the Washington policy community.

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Featured Podcast

Join host Scott Kennedy as he speaks to Chinese leaders from business, government, and academia, as well as foreigners who have spent many years living and working in China, on what makes China tick, where is the country going, what connects us, and what divides us on China Field Notes – with Scott Kennedy.

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Experts

Scott Kennedy

Senior Adviser and Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics