Executive Summary
Over forty members from thirteen American Chambers of Commerce (AmChams) in Asia traveled to Washington, D.C. to advocate for policies to accelerate American business growth in the Asia-Pacific region. Our message to the Trump Administration and Congress was simple: The United States needs to be engaged in the region, as it will strengthen the global and American economy. American companies in the region provide products and services that generate billions of dollars in the global and American economy. The AmChams advocated for Washington to support trade, strengthen U.S. engagement in the region, push for strong investment protections, and promote fair and consistent taxation for Americans abroad. The AmChams discussed how other governments are creating regional agreements that exclude the United States, resulting in competitive threats for U.S. exports. This in turn affects jobs in the United States, as 62% of American exports go to the Asia-Pacific region. The AmChams voiced support for U.S. government efforts to address China’s market access barriers. These barriers have created an unfair playing field for American companies, which has prolonged the trade negotiations.
The three-day Doorknock in Washington included discussions with senior Administration officials, members of Congress, influential think tanks, and other political and economic experts. Ongoing trade tensions between the U.S. and China were a hot topic throughout the Doorknock but there was also a strong focus on other U.S. policies affecting overseas Americans and business operations, including taxation policy, FATCA implementation and more. Guest speakers – including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo – discussed issues regarding China’s barriers of entry for American companies while citing the importance of trade and investment. U.S. Senator Rand Paul focused on changing the way Americans abroad are investigated and taxed by the IRS. Top-level staff from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce emphasized that the United States economy is growing while Commerce Under Secretary Gilbert Kaplan called for a more rules-based system in the Asia-Pacific to benefit American companies. Congressional Member meetings consisted of thirteen members of Congress and over thirty staffers, most of whom were sympathetic towards the challenges American companies face abroad. Overall, this year’s Doorknock was very productive, as the AmChams learned more about issues and potential solutions on both sides, while clearly advocating their united positions to the United States government.
