Event Background
Luncheon Briefing on Tariffs — Post-APEC Meeting
Inside View from Washington
Presentation by Ambassador Craig Allen, Former President of the US-China Business Council and Senior Counsel to the Powerful Cohen Group
Time: 11:30-14:00, Tuesday, November 4th, 2025
Venue: LN Garden Hotel Guangzhou
Members Only
Member Fee: RMB 350
Limited seats available. Registration on a first-come, first-served basis.
Presentation in English.
Please note this event is off the record.
Following the pivotal APEC meetings, the global trade landscape stands at a critical juncture. What do these discussions mean for the future of tariffs and supply chain dynamics, and how should your business prepare?
The American Chamber of Commerce in South China is pleased to host an exclusive Members-Only Luncheon Briefing featuring Ambassador Craig Allen, one of the most respected voices on U.S.-China trade and economic policy. As the former President of the US-China Business Council and Senior Counsel to the Cohen Group, Ambassador Allen brings unparalleled insight from Washington into the evolving global trade environment.
Ambassador Allen will share his perspective on:
- The latest developments in U.S.-China trade relations
- Emerging tariff and supply chain policies
- Strategic implications for global businesses operating in Asia and beyond
This is a unique opportunity to move beyond the headlines and gain strategic, actionable intelligence directly from a source at the center of trade policymaking.
Register Now! Don't miss this timely opportunity to gain insider insights and connect with fellow business leaders navigating the shifting trade landscape. The deadline to register for this event is November 2nd at 14:00 (China time). Registration is only validated upon receiving the event confirmation QR code. A reminder email will be sent to confirmed participants two days prior to the event.
*AmCham South China reserves the right for final interpretation*
Rundown
11:30-12:00 Registration & networking
12:00-12:30 Lunch Buffet Starts
12:30-12:40 Opening remarks by AmCham South China President Dr. Harley Seyedin
12:40-13:20 Presentation by Ambassador Craig Allen, Senior Counselor, Cohen Group, 2018-2024 Chairman of the Powerful US-China Business Council.
13:20-14:00 Q&A
14:00 Closing
Speakers
Ambassador Craig Allen
2018-2024 Chairman of the Powerful US-China Business Council – Former Deputy Assistant Secretary for China at the US Department of Commerce.
More Information
Dr. Harley Seyedin
President of AmCham South China
Dr. Harley Seyedin is an international businessman, humanitarian, and philanthropist.
Achievements:
- Dr. Harley Seyedin, together with Elon Musk, Durreen Shahnaz and Murad Al-Katib won the 2017 Oslo Business for Peace Award. The Oslo Business for Peace Prize is awarded by an Award Committee of Nobel Laureates in Peace and Economics. The task of appointing a new member to the Award committee has been given to former Swedish prime minister Göran Persson, former Norwegian prime minister Kjell Magne Bondevik, and the former director of the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), Kristian Berg Harpviken.
- Among fewer than 20 individuals to be awarded the “Peace Through Commerce Medal” by the U.S. Government since its inception by Thomas Jefferson in 1790 when he served as the nascent US Secretary of State under President George Washington and the only person in history to have been awarded both the Oslo Business for Peace Award and the Peace Through Commerce Medal.
- President, Allelon Energy Systems and former President of Sithe Global Pacific (Sithe Global is majority owned by and is the international power arm of the Blackstone Group).
- Under his direction since 1991, companies led by Harley have achieved firsts in many areas in China, including: the first majority western owned and operated power plant; first western invested toll road; and, first western owned and operated joint US-China university in China offering four year fully US accredited degrees without the need for the students to travel to US.
- Visiting Professor, Jinan University – one of the oldest universities established on mainland China tracing back to the Qing dynasty (1644–1911).
- Former Chairman of Montgomery College and State Chairman of the Maryland Association of Community College Trustees representing all seventeen community colleges of higher education in the State with over 35,000 faculty and staff and 100,000 students.
- Former Member of the Board of Directors of the Kennedy Institute, the largest private Catholic Charity in the United States, by appointment of Cardinal James A. Hickey.
- Together with Secretary of State of Cambodia, Dr. Heng Sokkung Knighted under the Philippine act of Parliament 646 joining Dr. Henry Kissinger and King Carlos of Spain and others previously knighted.
- knighted by the Head of Royal House, Duke of Braganza, Titular King of Portugal.
- Recognized by President George Herbert Walker Bush for his involvement with the
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
- Chairman and President, the American Chamber of Commerce in South China.
- Vice Chair, American Chambers of Asia Pacific (AAP).
Ambassador Craig Allen
2018-2024 Chairman of the Powerful US-China Business Council – Former Deputy Assistant Secretary for China at the US Department of Commerce.
Ambassador Craig Allen joined The Cohen Group in 2025 after serving as the President of the US-China Business Council (USCBC) from 2018 to 2024, a private, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization representing over 200 American companies doing business in China. Prior to his leadership at USCBC, Ambassador Allen was the United States Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam from December 19, 2014, to July 2018.
Before his ambassadorial role, Ambassador Allen had a long and distinguished career in US public service, primarily within the Department of Commerce. He served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Asia at the Department’s International Trade Administration and later as Deputy Assistant Secretary for China. His prior overseas assignments include serving as the Senior Commercial Officer at the US Embassy in Beijing, where he held the Minister Counselor rank of the Senior Foreign Service. He also served as Senior Commercial Officer in South Africa and as Deputy Senior Commercial Officer at the US Embassy in Tokyo.
Earlier in his career, Ambassador Allen worked at the National Center for APEC in Seattle, contributing to APEC Summits in Brunei, China, and Mexico. He held commercial attaché positions at the U.S. Embassies in Beijing and Tokyo and at the American Institute in Taiwan, where he was Director of the American Trade Center in Taipei. He began his government career in 1985 as a Presidential Management Intern at the Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration, later serving as an international economist in its China Office.
Ambassador Allen holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Asian Studies from the University of Michigan and a Master of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University.
