Thursday, April 9, 2026 | 5:00 PM EDT
For decades, China’s rapid economic rise has drawn Western businesses eager to tap its vast market — but that bilateral trade relationship is now under severe strain. Escalating tensions between Washington and Beijing are threatening global commerce and forcing businesses to fundamentally rethink their China strategies.
In this conversation, National Committee President Steve Orlins interviews Ker Gibbs, former president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai during the Obama, first Trump, and Biden administrations, about his new book, The Fragile Dragon: Trade, Trump, and China’s Vulnerabilities. Drawing on unparalleled access to leaders on both sides of the Pacific, Gibbs examines why U.S.-China tensions have reached a breaking point and what it means for global stability. He also offers practical guidance for businesses navigating the narrow corridor between what China wants and what the United States will allow — and how to structure for resilience as the relationship grows increasingly fragile.
Speaker
Ker Gibbs
Ker Gibbs has been an executive in residence at the University of San Francisco since 2022. He previously served as president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, focusing on U.S.-China relations and the challenges facing American companies in Asia. A Mandarin speaker, he has lived in Asia for more than two decades.
Mr. Gibbs has held executive positions with Apple, Disney, and other technology firms, and served as head of technology and media in greater China for HSBC. He is currently a partner at Foresight, a financial advisory firm.
Mr. Gibbs is an op-ed contributor to the Wall Street Journal, South China Morning Post, and other publications. He edited and co-authored a book, Selling to China: Stories of Success, Failure, and Constant Change, published by Palgrave Macmillan. He holds a BA in economics from UCLA and an MBA from the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley.
