Decoupling or De-Risking: Assessing US – China Bi-Lateral Relations

The PRC’s pursuit of a “Made in China” strategy in order to achieve “independence and self-reliance” within a projected 15 to 20 years if not sooner has fostered a debate in the American business community on how to safely de-risk or decouple, while successively determining alternate production and investment options, and remaining competitive in the global marketplace. Our 13 September event will evaluate and offer real world solutions.

Cancellation Policy: If you need to cancel, please do so not later than 48 hours before the event. ACIR is charged for your meal, so no refund can be provided.

Moderator: Tony Cuzzucoli

Tony Cuzzucoli is Program Director, Atlanta Council on International Relations, was born in Sharon, Connecticut, and raised in upstate New York in a farm village of 800. He is a former academic with 35 years teaching American Government and International Affairs. A graduate of Wagner College, Class of 1961, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in American History, and subsequently, in 1970, a Master of Arts Degree from Adelphi College in American Foreign Policy and International Affairs. Before moving to the Atlanta area 15 years ago, he resided in Hauppauge, Long Island, New York where he was known for his civic involvement on town, county, state, and the federal levels. He married his college sweetheart, Judith Wiegel Cuzzucoli, in 1962, and they have three children, Christopher, Amy, and Gregg, and four grandchildren, Matthew, Megan Emily, and Declan Colin Campbell, Georgia born, and Aedan Ethan Ward Cuzzucoli, California. 

Panelist: Scott Ellyson

Scott Ellyson is Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of East West Manufacturing. As CEO and Co-Founder, Scott has played a pivotal role in the Company’s growth. In addition to overseeing East West’s global operations, Scott is well recognized in the industry and very active in the Company’s acquisition efforts.

Before co-founding East West, Scott was VP of Offshore Manufacturing and Logistics for DiversiTech Corporation. Previously, He co-founded ITS Ltd., an EMS manufacturer in Asia that makes automobile components and electronic assemblies and began his career as a manufacturing and industrial engineer producing medical instruments for Boston Scientific. He also worked for several years as a management consultant for PWC, focusing on logistics, strategy and operations.

Scott grew up just outside of Milwaukee on Pewaukee Lake and attended Culver Military Academy in Indiana. He holds a degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the University of Florida and has been working in global manufacturing and distribution for over 20 years.

Panelist: John McIntyre

John R McIntyre is professor of international business management at the Scheller College of Business with a joint appointment  in international affairs at the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, Georgia Tech.  Prior to joining  Georgia Tech, he was a research associate and fellow at the UGA Law School’s Dean Rusk Center for International Law.  He worked for the late Hon. Dean Rusk who also guided his doctoral dissertation on US dual-export controls.

 He has witnessed the inspiring internationalization of the state of Georgia’s economy  over his career path since the late 1970s.  He is the founding director of the Georgia Tech Center for International Business Education & Research (GT CIBER), a national center of excellence established in 1993.  John received his graduate education at Northeastern University,  Strasbourg University and  McGill University, completing his Ph.D. at The University of Georgia. A feat for a Georgia Tech professor! 

He is the author of twelve books and over 100 articles and book chapters.  He is the founder of the Chinese Globalization Association Inc. (based in Florida) which holds a respected  annual research conference on the Chinese economy, the latest in July 2023 held in Bologna, Italy.  In 2021, he completed, with Francesca Spigarelli, The New Chinese Dream: Industrial Policy in the Post-Pandemic Era.

John is recipient of the Georgia Governors’ international award for international business education; the French National Order of Merit; the Steven Denning Faculty Award for Global Engagement at Georgia Tech.

Panelist: George Zaharatos

George Zaharatos is a principal, Global Trade Data and Technology Leader and the Southeast Regional leader for the firm’s International Tax – Trade and Customs practice based in the Atlanta office. George has been with the firm since 2005 and has over 25 years supporting clients to manage cross-border transactions and identify tariff savings and efficiencies in global supply chains.

George serves clients primarily in the automotive, semiconductor, communications, and life sciences industries.  George is a leader in the development of technology solutions including cognitive technology and machine learning and advancing trade data and analytics.  He had led the development of solutions to monitor and manage U.S.-China tariffs using automation. George is also an automotive global sector lead partner and works alongside the KPMG’s tax and advisory practices, and brings teams together to serve clients needs that span across functions in dynamic global supply chains.

George is a frequent presenter on industry webinars, roudtables and conferences and co-author of several articles on the impact of tariffs and trade on multinational companies, including:

• Bloomberg Tax – “Trade and Tax Considerations in a Transforming Supply Chain Environment”
• Global Trade and Customs Journal – (abstract Link here).– “Eradicating Forced Labor in Global Supply Chains”
• KPMG Destination Country X Podcast – “Cross-Border Trade Disruption: Tariff vs. Tax?” 
• KPMG Insights – “How do Tariffs Affect Deal Value”
• Bloomberg Tax – “The USMCA Inflection Point: Plotting a Course for Free Trade Agreement Management – Which Way Will You Go?”
• Transaction Advisors – “Trade, tariffs, and deals: keeping up with the speed of M&A”