Kurt Tong, Economic Coordinator and U.S. Senior Official for APEC, presented a talk titled "The US in Asia: APEC and President Obama's Trip". During his talk, Mr. Tong discussed the direction of trans-pacific economic relations, offering insight into cooperation between the US and Asia.
Ambassador Chan Heng Chee, Singapore's Ambassador to the United States, visited Brandeis IBS to participate in a discussion with students on the HBS case "Remaking Singapore." In the discussion, Ambassador Chan emphasized the role education plays in maintaining a healthy and growing economy.
In an engaging exchange, the Honorable Fu Ziying, China's Vice Minister of Commerce called for a cooperative approach towards tackling pressing global issues including poverty reduction, climate change, and bilateral trade.
Barbara Weisel, Assistant US Trade Representative, presented a talk on Trans-Pacific Partnerships and US trade policy to students in Econ 260 and later held a lunch talk. Weisel is the chief negotiator for the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, potentially an eight-country Free Trade Agreement spanning economies on both sides of the Pacific.