Dear SCCC members
September 2018 was a fully packed period
with more than 10 Chamber events – let me recall three of them: the Cross
Border Conference on the Digital Commerce development in Zurich, the Swiss
Chinese Life Science Forum at Novartis Basel and the Special Luncheon Edition
with Schindler’s Chairman Silvio Napoli. Interestingly, at all events little
was said about the American-Chinese trade war. All experts – including the
US-experts – agree that the bill for the imposed tariffs will have to be paid
by the American consumers. Not only mobile phones but e.g. also 70% of all
shoes sold in the US are imported from China. America has been happy with this
global sourcing pattern for decades, now, Mr. Trump aims to de-globalize the
global economy, an endeavor which will fail.
However, what we have learned during these
events is the enormous speed of innovation which creates a healthy competition
between Western and Chinese enterprises. In the field of digitalization, the
Chinese are already well ahead of Europe. Novartis and Schindler have not just
for cost reason decided to build production lines in China – they have partly
moved their knowhow and development centers to China since they believe that
quality and innovation have to be designed and engineered in the fastest
growing economy, in China. Representatives of globally active Swiss enterprises
made it quite clear: the Western world should give up its complex of
superiority and accept this healthy race for innovation.
I can only recommend to our members to
join our upcoming events – more is on the agenda on compliance questions in
China and, of course, on the Belt and Road Initiative.
Wishing you a fruitful month of October.
Best regards,
Thomas Christ
Switzerland is seeking a new round of discussion on its free trade agreement with China and expects medicines to be included, Swiss Federal Councillor Johann N. Schneider-Ammann said during his visit to China from Sep 5 to 9, who also noted China has not responded on the subject yet.
