Tuesday, February 3, 2026 | 12:00 AM EST
As Washington and Beijing prepare for the upcoming Xi–Trump summit in April, one question has emerged: could Chinese automakers, particularly electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers, invest in the United States? Chinese firms like Geely and tech companies such as Xiaomi have expressed interest in partnerships or production on American soil and President Trump himself has publicly floated the idea that Washington might allow some form of Chinese auto or EV investment in the United States.
On February 3, 2026, Ilaria Mazzocco and James Rowland joined Gregor Williams to explore the feasibility, challenges, and implications of such investment—from national security reviews and export controls to the broader geopolitical context.
Speakers
Ilaria Mazzocco
Ilaria Mazzocco is deputy director and senior fellow with the Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Previously, she was a senior research associate at the Paulson Institute, researching Chinese climate and energy policy
for Macropolo. She holds a Ph.D. from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS); her dissertation investigated Chinese industrial policy, focusing on electric vehicle promotion efforts and the role of local governments. She also holds master’s degrees from Johns Hopkins SAIS and the Central European University, as well as a bachelor’s degree from Bard College. Dr. Mazzocco is a fellow in the National Committee’s Public Intellectuals Program (PIP).
James Rowland
James Rowland is the founder and chief executive officer of Clear Arrow Policy Advisors, where he advises global organizations on complex international government affairs and cross-border policy issues, with a focus on strengthening commercial relationships among the United States, Canada, and China. He brings more than 15 years of policy and corporate affairs experience, including senior roles at Ford Motor Company in Toronto, Washington, D.C., and Shanghai. His work has spanned industrial policy, trade negotiations, investment incentives, and corporate reputation management in high-stakes political and regulatory environments. Mr. Rowland currently serves on the board of directors of the American Automotive Policy Council and is a member of the US-China Business Council, the Canada-China Business Council, and the Asia Society.
Moderator
Gregor Williams (Sebastian)
Gregor Williams is an associate director with Rhodium Group’s China Corporate Advisory team, focusing on China’s industrial policy, electric vehicle industry, and relationship with the European Union. Before joining Rhodium Group, Mr. Williams was an analyst in the Economy Research Team at the Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS) in Berlin, Europe’s biggest China-focused think tank. He holds an MSc in economic history from the London School of Economics and an undergraduate degree in political science from the University of Halle (Germany).