A group of lawmakers from the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party are set to meet with tech and media executives, including Apple CEO Tim Cook and Disney CEO Bob Iger, to discuss China-related topics. The three-day trip, led by Chair Mike Gallagher, will provide an opportunity for lawmakers to learn from industry leaders and share their concerns about business connections to China.
The trip holds significance for the tech and media industries, as both have a vested interest in the Chinese consumer market and workforce. Apple, for example, relies on Chinese labor for phone production. Just last week, Tim Cook held a meeting with China’s minister of commerce to address supply chain issues.
Chair Mike Gallagher has previously expressed a desire to have Bob Iger and top executives from major tech companies testify before the panel. The committee hopes to press businesses to diversify their supply chains and ensure they are not overly reliant on Beijing. They also aim to address concerns about forced labor in China.
The visit will commence with a meeting with Bob Iger in Hollywood, followed by a dinner with producers, screenwriters, and former studio executives who have worked extensively in the Chinese market. Lawmakers will then travel to Silicon Valley for meetings with technology companies. Discussions will cover topics such as rare earth minerals, artificial intelligence, and China’s strategy around emerging technologies.
Leading tech companies such as Microsoft and Google will participate in discussions about defensive and offensive approaches to strategic competition. A dinner in Silicon Valley will include officials from prominent venture capital firms.
In addition to Tim Cook and Bob Iger, the lawmakers are expected to meet with Microsoft President Brad Smith and Alphabet’s President of Global Affairs and Chief Legal Officer Kent Walker. The full roster of select committee members attending the trip is yet to be confirmed, but Rep. Ro Khanna, who represents Silicon Valley, will be among them.
This trip signifies the growing concern among lawmakers about China’s influence and the need to address issues related to business connections with the country. It provides an opportunity for industry leaders to share their insights and for lawmakers to express their concerns, ultimately shaping the future of business relations with China.
