Executive Director Jean-Marc F. Blanchard speaks at EU-China Roundtable on “The Business of Trade, Investment, and Global Politics.”

Dr. Jean-Marc F. Blanchard, Executive Director of the Mr. & Mrs. S.H. Wong Center for the Study of Multinational Corporations, participated in a EU-China Roundtable on “The Business of Trade, Investment, and Global Politics” organized by the University of Pittsburgh Asian Studies and European Studies Centers. At the Roundtable in Pittsburgh, held on October 24, Dr. Blanchard spoke about some of the challenges and opportunities for European businesses contemplating foreign direct investment (FDI) in China, highlighted some of the upsides and downsides of Chinese outward FDI for European firms, and discussed some of the potential gains and competitive pressures for European companies emanating from China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as well as paths they might pursue to maximize their gains. During a lively Q&A session, Dr. Blanchard addressed numerous audience member questions including ones pertaining to China’s quest to shape technical standards and the BRI’s progress in certain countries.