Join us on June 9 and 13 for a two-part special lecture presented by Dr. Bo Chen, Senior Research Fellow and Co-Head of the Econ Group of the East Asian Institute of the National University of Singapore.

In his second term, President Trump reignited a tariff war, escalating tensions with China. This talk compares the China–U.S. trade wars 1.0 and 2.0, examining the political logic and strategic calculus on both sides. It also considers potential trajectories of the conflict and the likelihood of a new trade deal between the two powers. Finally, the talk discusses the implications for third parties—especially Canada, which faces direct exposure to U.S. trade tensions and indirect impacts from the broader U.S.–China trade conflict.

Discussant: Eric Werker

Tickets: The event is free, but registration is required.

Enquiries: beedie-events@sfu.ca

About the Speakers:

Prof. Bo Chen

Professor Bo Chen received his Ph.D. degree in Economics from Simon Fraser University (Vancouver, Canada) in 2008. Dr. Chen is the Senior Research Fellow and Co-Head of the Econ Group at the East Asian Institute of the National University of Singapore. Additionally, he is a Professor of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, a Research Associate at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, and a Distinguished Fellow at the Jack Austin Center.

Dr. Chen’s research interests lie in International Economics, Development Economics, and China’s Economy. He has published more than 30 peer-reviewed papers in renowned economic journals such as the Journal of International Economics, Journal of Comparative Economics, Economics Letters, and the World Economy.

Dr. Chen also provides insights on a wide range of China’s economic issues, including Free Trade Zones/Ports of China, the Belt & Road Initiative, and Macroeconomic Dynamics. He has been invited to give talks at the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Commerce of China, as well as the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC) of the State Council. His opinions have appeared in various mainstream media outlets such as CCTV, Xinhua Media, Lianhe Zaobao, The Strait Times, BBC, The Economist, and the Wall Street Journal. In addition to advising the central/federal governments of China, Singapore, and Canada, Dr. Chen has also provided consultations to many leading business groups and think tanks, including Goldman Sachs, Temasek, HSBC, Deutsche Bank, BAML, Citi Bank, BMW, Huawei, the Asian Society, and CEPII.

Jia Wang

Jia Wang is a Senior Fellow at the China Institute, University of Alberta, where she has held leadership roles since 2011, primarily as Interim Director and Deputy Director. Jia also serves as a Senior Fellow at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada and a member of the Canada-U.S. Commission on China, convened by the Wilson Center in Washington, D.C.

Jia specializes in the economic and political dimensions of contemporary China and Canada–China relations. At the China Institute, she has led scores of policy research initiatives examining Canada’s diplomatic, trade, investment, and energy links with China. She also advises leaders across academia, government, and the private sector on China-related strategy and policy. A frequent media commentator, speaker, and moderator, Jia regularly contributes to international, national, and community-level dialogues and conferences.

Prof. Eric Werker

Eric Werker is the William Saywell Professor at the Beedie School of Business at Simon Fraser University. Werker’s recent research has focused on the political economy of private sector development, economic diversification in resource-rich economies, and the interface between resource projects and local and national economies. Werker is a research affiliate of the International Growth Centre and the United Nations University WIDER and has been a policy advisor to national governments and regional organizations. He earned his A.B. and Ph.D in economics at Harvard.