Faced with an increasingly unstable geopolitical and economic environment, industrial policy has been inserted as a core component of the agendas of the world’s three largest economies – the United States (US), China and the European Union (EU). Their strategies and regulations on renewable and low-carbon energy technologies, raw materials and technologies of the future are likely to result in profound implications for global supply and value chains while reshaping industries, especially high-technology sectors such as semiconductors.

What is the outlook for global geopolitics and trade amid this industrial strategy race? What are the implications of the various policy measures for the strategies of multinational companies? As the world drifts further away from globalisation, how will the elevation of industrial strategies impact the liberalisation of global trade?

Faced with the above and further related questions, the European Chamber launched an event series—Battling it out - Decoding the Global Industrial Strategy Race—to bring members a comprehensive understanding on the industrial strategies adopted by the world’s top three superpowers and their implications on both state and industry players (click here to know more about the first session).

The second episode will focus on the EU’s recently unveiled Critical Raw Materials Act and how it resonates with the US Inflation Reduction Act while underscoring the competition for “critical raw materials (CRMs)” and “strategic raw materials (SRMs)”. It will also look at how the EU and the US can achieve the common objective of increasing self-sufficiency for minerals and technology products needed for the green and digital transition.

Agenda

15:00–15:05: Opening address 

• Dr. Gianni Di Giovanni, States' Representative of European Chamber

15:05–15:35: A Thick Markets Approach to CRM: Findings of the 31st Global Trade Alert Report

• Dr Simon Evenett, Professor of International Trade and Economic Development at the University of St. Gallen, Founder of the St Gallen Endowment

15:35–16:15: Discussion: Implications of the EU’s Critical Raw Material Act for European industry and technology provider

• Dr Simon Evenett, Professor of International Trade and Economic Development at the University of St. Gallen, Founder of the St Gallen Endowment
• Dr. Gianni Di Giovanni, States' Representative of European Chamber
• Bastian Burrer, Head of China Group Strategy, Volkswagen

hosted by Joerg Wuttke, Chief Representative, BASF China

16:15–16:45: Q&A

Terms & Conditions

Events have limited seating so to ensure your attendance we encourage advance online registration and payment. We cannot guarantee entry to anyone not registered in advance.

Payment can be made by cash, (domestic) credit/debit card or WeChat. If pay in advance via WeChat we are typically able to provide Fapiao upon your arrival. For payments made on-site we will dispatch the Fapiao to the given address within 5-10 days.

Events are held in English and follow the Chatham House rule unless otherwise stated.

Advisory Council Policy

Members of the Advisory Council may receive complimentary admission to Chamber seminars, conferences and factory visits up to two attendees per event. Additional participants will be charged at the member rate.

Advisory Council members will still be charged the standard member rate for participation in training courses and special events, such as gala balls, government appreciation dinners, or admission to corporate social events/tournaments.

For further information contact Luyang Syvänen lsyvanen@europeanchamber.com.cn 

Cancellation Policy

If you cannot attend the event for which you have registered, please cancel your registration no later than one business day prior to the event. If you fail to notify us of your cancellation in a timely fashion, you will be charged for event costs.

To cancel you can: 1) email Chloe Du cdu@europeanchamber.com.cn, or 2) cancel online if you registered for the event through the website.

Speakers

Dr. Gianni Di Giovanni

States' Representative of European Chamber; Chairman Eni China BV; EVP Eni China Rep Office

Dr. Gianni Di Giovanni

States' Representative of European Chamber; Chairman Eni China BV; EVP Eni China Rep Office

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Dr. Di Giovanni was born on July 3, 1963, Italy. He obtained a master’s degree in Energy and Climate Change. He is the States' Representative of European Chamber since 2023.
• 2006-2013: Executive Vice President of Eni Communications.
• 2012-2015: President and CEO of the AGI SPA（Eni Group）.
• 2015-2020: Chairman of the Board of Directors of Eni USA Uptream, Chairman of the Board of Eni USA Downstream, Executive Vice President of Eni USA Branch Office.
• Since 2020, Chairman of the Eni China and Executive Vice President of Eni China Branch Office.

Prof. Simon Evenett

Professor of international trade and Economic Development at the University of St. Gallen; Coordinator of Global Trade Alert

Prof. Simon Evenett

Professor of international trade and Economic Development at the University of St. Gallen; Coordinator of Global Trade Alert

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Professor of International Trade and Economic Development at the University of St. Gallen and Founder of the St Gallen Endowment, the new home of the Global Trade Alert initiative, the leading independent trade policy monitoring initiative.

After starting his career at the (then) University of Michigan Business school, he has taught at Oxford and Rutgers universities and has been DLA Piper Distinguished Visiting Professor at Johns Hopkins University (twice) and Visiting Professor of Corporate Strategy at the University of Michigan (thrice). Professor Evenett was the first Director of Economic Research at the World Trade Institute and has been Co-Director of the CEPR’s International Trade and Regional Economics Programme, the leading European-based group of researchers in international trade and economic geography.

He served twice as a World Bank official, has been a non-resident Senior Fellow of the Brookings Institution in Washington, DC, as well as a Member of the High Level Group on Globalization established by then French Trade Minister Christine LaGarde, a Member of the Warwick Commission on the Future of the Multilateral Trading System after Doha, and a Member of the Zedillo Committee on the Global Trade and Financial Architecture. In 2020 he was invited to join the Global Future Council on Trade and Investment of the World Economic Forum.

Professor Evenett obtained his Ph.D. in Economics from Yale University and B.A in Economics from the University of Cambridge. He has published over 225 books, edited volumes, journal articles, and book chapters. In addition, he has prepared over 50 reports for public bodies and international organisations and, furthermore, has written over 250 shorter pieces (VoxEU columns, other blogs, newspaper articles, and short commentaries). Professor Evenett frequently engages with corporates, government officials, and the media as well as with analysts and scholars.

Mr. Jörg Wuttke

Chief Representative China, BASF (China) Co., Ltd.

Mr. Jörg Wuttke

Chief Representative China, BASF (China) Co., Ltd.

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Jörg Wuttke is Chief Representative of BASF China, based in Beijing.
Jörg Wuttke 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.
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 30 years.

Mr. Bastian Burrer

Head of China Group Strategy

Mr. Bastian Burrer

Head of China Group Strategy

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Mr. Bastian Burrer has been associated with Volkswagen Group China since 2013. He has held various roles within the company, including Head of Electrification / CO2 / Powertrain from 2020 to 2021, and since 2022, he has taken on the position of Head of China Group Strategy. Mr. Bastian Burrer accumulated significant experience in product management.

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