California-China Trade Office Eyes Expansion

California Governor Jerry Brown met in Seattle with China’s president this week to discuss the economy, the environment and trade. 

Brown opened a California-China trade office in Shanghai in 2013. John Grubb is with the Bay Area Council, which runs the office. He says in that time the office has facilitated numerous partnerships, including a potential project between two prominent universities.

"Tsinghua University and UC Berkeley are talking about a major partnership," he says. "Tsinghua University is often considered the top university in China, it’s in Beijing. And they are considering doing a joint campus both in China and here." 

Grubb acknowledges the trade partnership between California and China was already well established. But he says the trade office has been able to assist with deals and develop relationships. Right now it has about 50 active clients, with half in China and half in the US. Grubb says the office is considering how to expand in China.