Trade and Security: New Frontiers in the U.S. and China

Governor Tom Ridge, Former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security and Former Governor of Pennsylvania

Former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge will provide fresh insights into the way the wind is blowing on Capitol Hill on issues related to security and trade. He will provide his personal views on key issues of the day, such as the difficulties foreigners face in obtaining work visas for the U.S.

As the U.S. and China try to hammer out new bilateral trade deals there are signs that Congress is hardening its stance on a range of economic, financial and trade issues related to China. But on the issue of security there are signs of greater rapprochement as China becomes more involved in international conflict resolution and has indicated some support for U.S. efforts to combat global terrorist networks.

Security measures implemented in recent years to protect U.S. borders have had ramifications across the world, including in the shipping sector, as the war on terrorism moved out to include ocean-going ships and major international ports facilitating trade with the U.S. As one of the world's busiest ports, Hong Kong has been at the forefront of implementing these new security initiatives, with private container terminal operators working with U.S. Customs and other agencies to provide sophisticated new measures in the supply chain to protect against terrorist attacks on land and at sea.