As the EU takes a more assertive approach towards China, including through trade defense, industrial policy and efforts to strengthen technological and economic resilience, European companies are having to reassess their investment strategies, supply chains and long-term exposure to China. At the same time, growing divergence in data, technology, intellectual property and security regulations across China, Europe and the US is adding further complexity.

Against this backdrop, CBBC is delighted to welcome Joerg Wuttke, partner, DGA/Albright Stonebridge Group, and former President of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, for an exclusive briefing led by CBBC Chair, Sir Sebastian Wood KCMG. 

Drawing on his extensive experience of European business in China and his first-hand understanding of EU-China relations, Joerg will share his perspectives on the evolving economic and geopolitical landscape and what it means for international businesses.

The discussion will explore:

• China’s economic outlook: What is the current state of China’s economy, and what does it mean for European and UK businesses operating in the market?
• US-China tensions and global trade: How are tariffs, trade tensions and shifting supply chains reshaping the business environment.
• De-risking in practice: Is de-risking becoming a fundamental shift in business strategy or remaining largely political rhetoric? How should companies assess their exposure and resilience?
• Investment and market access: As political and geopolitical risks increase, how should businesses rethink their long-term investment strategies in China?
• Technology and innovation: How is the US-China technology rivalry affecting European companies’ innovation strategies, partnerships and access to technology?
• Regulatory divergence: As China, Europe and the US develop increasingly different approaches to data, IP, digital regulation and security, how can companies remain agile and competitive?
• Looking ahead: What geopolitical flashpoints and policy shifts could have the greatest impact on European and UK businesses over the next five years?

Join us for a forward-looking discussion on how businesses can navigate a more fragmented global economy, manage geopolitical risks and identify opportunities in a rapidly changing China market.

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About our Speakers:

Joerg Wuttke, Partner, DGA Group/ Albright Stonebridge Group 

Joerg Wuttke is a Partner with the DGA Group/ Albright Stonebridge Group since August 2024 and is based in Washington DC. Until July 2024, Mr Wuttke was Vice President of BASF China for 27 years. He was President of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China from 2007 to 2010, 2014 to 2017, and again from 2019 to 2023. From 2001 to 2004, Mr Wuttke was the Chairman of the German Chamber of Commerce in China. He joined the Robert Bosch supervisory board in 2023. Since its establishment in 2013, Mr Wuttke is member of the Advisory Board of Germany’s foremost Think Tank on China, Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS), in Berlin. He lived in China for more than 35 years.
 

Sir Sebastian Wood KCMG, Chair, China-Britain Business Council; Chairman, China Affairs, Schroders Plc

Sir Sebastian Wood KCMG served as British Ambassador to China from 2010 to 2015 and as British Ambassador to Germany from 2015 to 2020. Earlier in his career as a British diplomat, he had postings in Bangkok, Hong Kong, and Washington, and as the Foreign Office’s Director for the Asia Pacific region.

He studied mathematics and philosophy at Magdalen College Oxford and is a Fellow of the Weatherhead Centre for International Affairs at Harvard University.