The US Embassy in Beijing serves as the bilateral mission between China and the United States, housing more than 20 federal agencies. The various offices are listed on your left. For Visa and American Citizens’ Services also see separate sections in main menu of this site.
American Citizen Services / Visa
The Consular Section of the American Embassy provides assistance to American citizens residing in or visiting China and Visa services for temporary visitors and immigrants to the United States.
The Citizen Services Unit helps American citizens with passport applications and renewals, reports of birth for children born in China, voter registration, applications for Social Security numbers, federal benefits, child custody issues, and notarial services. The unit also provides emergency services for American citizens in distress.
The Visa Unit processes both nonimmigrant and immigrant visas. Nonimmigrant visas are processed for persons who seek short-term visas to the United States, such as tourist visas, business visas, student visas, crew visas, temporary work permits, etc.
Immigrant visas are processed for persons who are entitled to reside permanently in the United States and the main office is currently located in the Guangzhou Consulate district.
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS) is a regulatory agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The APHIS mission is to safeguard the health, welfare and value of American Agriculture and natural resources by preventing the entry and spread of agricultural pests and diseases into the United States. APHIS’ efforts includes keeping U.S. agricultural industries free from pests and diseases and certifying that the U.S. agricultural and food products shipped to markets abroad meet the importing countries’ Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) entry requirements. APHIS also ensures that all imported agricultural products shipped to the United States from abroad meet the Agency’s entry requirements. APHIS fulfills these vital roles to promote the safe trade of agricultural products by negotiating the import and export protocols with the foreign governments. APHIS overseas foot print includes 30 strategically located offices staffed by technically skilled diplomats
APHIS Beijing office provides technical leadership, management and coordination of plant and animal health issues with China (Hong Kong, Macau), and Mongolia and ensures the safe trade of agricultural products consistent with international standards. Partnering with Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), APHIS ensures that new trade opportunities are realized and that existing agricultural trade between the United State and China flows smoothly. As primary negotiator for SPS related trade issues, the APHIS Beijing office maintains close working relationships with the Chinese counterparts to resolve SPS issues to facilitate opening of new markets and to retain or expand current markets for U.S. agricultural products. APHIS Beijing office also secures the release of Agricultural shipments detained at Chinese ports by resolution of trade related SPS issues as they occur at ports of entry.
“As we look to develop a plan for the future, we are committed to doing all we can at APHIS to ensure the health, marketability, and profitability of American agriculture.” Kevin Shea, Administrator, APHIS
Commercial Service
The U.S. Foreign Commercial Service at the U.S. Embassy Beijing assists U.S. companies with U.S. exports to China, emphasizing help for U.S. SMEs. We have five offices in China: Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenyang, Wuhan offering customized solutions to help U.S. companies enter and expand in the China market. For more information on the US Commercial Service in China please see our website here: https://trade.gov/china
The US Commercial Service is the trade promotion arm of the U.S. Government. Our main objectives are to promote U.S. exports, by encouraging foreign direct investment into the US, and protecting US business interests abroad. By facilitating exports of US products to China, we also foster easy access to U.S. products and services for Chinese buyers.
The U.S.-China trade relationship continues to grow in size and strength, as it has over the past decades, bilateral trade growing annually at 17% for the past 10 years. Moreover, the U.S. Government’s commitment to further strengthening this trade relationship is evident in the staffing and resources invested in the Embassy and Consulates in China. Our China operation is three times larger than the second largest Department of Commerce operation in a foreign country.
In addition to our strong presence in China, we have offices in 78 other countries around the world and over 100 offices — U.S. Export Assistance Centers, or USEACs — throughout the U.S. The USEACs serve as convenient contact points for U.S. companies looking to export. Our U.S. and China offices work closely to help U.S. companies understand their products’ potential in China, and to introduce appropriate Chinese buyers and partners. Our services cover many areas, including:
- Business Consulting & Advocacy – Commercial Service staff in the U.S. and China counsel U.S. clients daily on issues such as market sector growth and potential, industry standards, IPR protection, and market entry barriers. Moreover, we help companies that face trade disputes, non-payment issues, and regulatory anomalies. We also advocate for U.S. companies competing for foreign government contracts.
- International Partnering – We understand that one of the biggest hurdles U.S. companies face when doing international business is locating an appropriate, reliable, and honest partner with whom to work. Whether it is a distributor, sales representative, or customs agent, we help US companies find the right partner in China. Our trademark Gold Key Matching Service introduces US companies to these potential Chinese partners. To help US companies export we also have other services, that include tailored marketing facilitation and due diligence on potential partners.
- Trade Events – International trade shows provide an excellent platform to introduce U.S. suppliers to foreign buyers. The Commercial Service facilitates U.S. exhibitors at trade shows around the world to meet with foreign buyers attending the show. In addition, the Commercial Service organizes a number of industry-specific trade missions every year, bringing delegations of US companies to China and other countries around the world to get a first-hand look at the local market and meet key industry players.
- SelectUSA – SelectUSA is the lead program for increasing investment in the United States. Overseas, the Foreign Commercial Service operates SelectUSA to attract foreign direct investment. China’s office does this through 1) supporting state and local economic development organizations with their investment outreach efforts; 2) serving as a one-window source of actionable investment information for local investors; and 3) acting as the in-country point of contact to raise awareness in Washington regarding regulatory barriers to investment. For more information visit www.selectusa.gov
Contact:
Beijing
55 An Jia Lou Lu
Beijing 100600, China
Tel: (86.10) 8531-4158
Fax: (86.10) 8531-3949
Email: office.beijing@trade.gov
Web: http://www.export.gov/china/
Department of Energy, China Office
The mission of the U.S. Department of Energy is to ensure America’s security and prosperity by addressing its energy, environmental and nuclear challenges through transformative science and technology solutions. The DOE China office coordinates with all DOE Program Offices and the National Nuclear Security Administration on issues affecting nuclear security and energy cooperation with China.
Contact:
DOE Office: (86.10) 8531-3567
Web: http://www.energy.gov
Economic Section
The Economic Section works on behalf of U.S. industry and the American public to advance U.S. economic interests throughout China. Every day, we push to expand market access for American goods and services and fight for a level playing field for U.S. companies doing business in China. The section works in concert with other economic and trade agencies throughout the U.S. government and routinely engages with China where our interests align, on everything from sanctions implementation to international development assistance cooperation.
Environment, Science, Technology and Health (ESTH) Section
The Embassy’s Environment, Science, Technology and Health (ESTH) Section works with Chinese government agencies and non-governmental organizations to advance environmental stewardship, encourage economic growth, and cooperate on shared challenges. The Section’s key areas of focus include climate change, clean energy development, pollution, toxic chemical management, space exploration, biodiversity, environmental law, and emerging infectious diseases. To learn more about the ESTH section and its key issues, visit the ESTH page.
Contact Us:
US EMBASSY BEIJING ESTH OFFICE
Fax: (86.10) 8531-3939
Food and Drug Administration
FDA Activities in China
“The mission of the Beijing-based FDA office is to help ensure the safety, quality, and effectiveness of medical products and food produced in China for export to the United States. The China Offices seeks to accomplish these objectives by:
- Promoting international health policy harmonization and regulatory convergence;
- Engaging with regulatory authorities, industry, academia, multilateral organizations, non-governmental organizations, and other relevant institutions to increase the FDA’s understanding of China’s regulatory framework and processes and share information about FDA’s science-based regulations and requirements;
- Conducting risk-based, commodity-specific inspections to meet the requirements of FDA’s legislative mandates; and
- Monitoring and reporting on regulatory trends, conditions, and emerging public health events that have the potential to impact the safety of FDA-regulated goods produced in China intended for U.S. consumption.”
FDA Cooperative Agreements
A Cooperative Arrangement is a written understanding that FDA can establish with one or more foreign governments or international partners that describes the willingness and good-faith intentions of FDA and its counterpart(s) to engage in cooperative activities. Cooperative Arrangements can have a variety of titles, including “Memorandum of Understanding.”
Even with a Cooperative Arrangement in place, the FDA cannot share non-public information unless a Confidentiality Commitment exists.
U.S. Resources:
China Resources:
Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)
U.S. Embassy FSIS Biography
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is the public health agency in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) responsible for protecting the public’s health by ensuring the safety of the nation’s commercial supply of meat, poultry, and processed egg products. FSIS ensures food safety through the authorities of the Federal Meat Inspection Act, the Poultry Products Inspection Act, and the Egg Products Inspection Act, as well as humane animal handling through the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act. FSIS also determines if foreign nations’ food safety inspection systems of meat, poultry, and processed egg products are equivalent to that of the United States. The determination of being equivalent grants foreign nations the ability to export products that are safe, wholesome, unadulterated, and correctly labeled and packaged to the United States. In addition, FSIS ensures that FSIS-regulated products exported to foreign countries meet those countries’ requirements for all meat, poultry, and processed egg products.
FSIS’ Beijing office provides technical guidance related to the country’s food safety system and represents FSIS on technical issues pertaining to the import and export of meat, poultry and egg products to ensure safe international trade. The FSIS Beijing office collaborates with its foreign counterparts to explain changes or new methods, offering suggestions for effectively implementing programs and improving existing systems.
Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)
The Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), and the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) at the American Embassy in Beijing represent the interests of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in China.
Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)
USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) has an unrivaled global network, of more than 90 Offices of Agricultural Affairs (OAA) and Agricultural Trade Offices (ATO), that connects exporters to foreign customers and provides crucial information on international agricultural markets. Covering 167 countries, FAS staff identify problems, provide practical solutions, and work to advance opportunities for U.S. agriculture, and support U.S. foreign policy around the globe. FAS operates five offices in China. These include one OAA located in Beijing and five ATOs located in Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Shenyang. Beijing OAA is responsible for trade policy and commodity analysis, coordinates USDA China reporting through the Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN), and assists with market access and technical issues for all of China. Agricultural Trade Offices focus on agricultural marketing efforts. All five ATOs in China provide support, assistance, and oversight to USDA cooperators (US agricultural product trade associations), work directly with U.S. companies to help them gain the knowledge and contacts needed to begin exporting to China, and prepare and disseminate reports about China’s agricultural market. The ATOs coordinate U.S. participation in various trade shows; sponsor marketing activities to introduce companies handling U.S. products to key retailers, food service and food processing companies throughout China; and provide guidance in the resolution of customs clearance issues. FAS China also sponsors training activities for Chinese public and private sector professionals, both in China and in the United States, on agricultural science and technology, agricultural innovation, food safety, etc.
- Office of Agricultural Affairs Office Beijing (OAA Beijing)
- Agricultural Trade Office Beijing (ATO Beijing)
- Agricultural Trade Office Shanghai (ATO Shanghai)
- Agricultural Trade Office Guangzhou (ATO Guangzhou)
- Agricultural Trade Office Shenyang (ATO Shenyang)
General Services / Management Office
Human Resources
Public Affairs
The Public Affairs Section (PAS) is comprised of the Information Section and the Cultural Section. PAS administers the U.S. Government’s official information, educational, and cultural exchange activities in China, and PAS is the official voice of the United States Embassy in China and divides its work in two sections.
Through its Information Section, PAS handles all public affairs matters and media relations concerning the Embassy, the United States Government, and U.S. policies toward China. The Information Section also assists other agencies and elements of the Embassy in their media activities and programs. This section also prepares and distributes a daily Washington File, press releases, and backgrounders on American policy; organizes press conferences, webchats and other media events; and provides timely and useful information to Chinese journalists and China-based foreign correspondents. Journalists may also wish to contact the Foreign Press Center or the Department of State Public Affairs (PA) Office.
The Cultural Section coordinates and supports U.S. cultural and educational activities in China. These activities include exchange visitor programs, Fulbright and other educational exchange programs, and lecture programs. The Beijing American Center (BAC) houses a reference service that provides information on U.S. history, society, government and education, and holds regular programs and events about various topics, including the EducationUSA, and Exchange and English Language Program. See the Beijing American Center page for more information.
The Public Affairs Offices in the Consulate Districts are:
Guangzhou – Public Affairs Office
43 Hua Jiu Road, Zhujiang New Town
Tianhe District
Tel: (20) 3814-5000
Fax: (20) 3814-5586
The public affairs office in Guangzhou is responsible for carrying out all of the U.S. Government’s information, cultural and educational exchange programs in the Guangzhou Consular District (Guangdong, Fujian, Guangxi and Hainan provinces). Our Information Resource Center is open to all members of the public during regular office hours, 8:00-12:00 and 13:00-17:00 Monday – Friday.
Shanghai – Public Affairs Office
American International Centre Suite 532
Shanghai Centre 1376 Nanjing West Road, Shanghai 200040 (Portman/Ritz Carlton complex)
Tel: (21) 6279-7662
Fax: (21) 6279-7603
The office administers U.S. Government’s public affairs, diplomacy, and information programs, including academic and cultural exchanges in eastern China (Shanghai municipality together with Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Anhui provinces). The office is open 08:00-12:00 and 13:00-17:00 Monday – Friday.
Shenyang – Public Affairs Office
No. 52, Shisi Wei Road,
Heping District, Shenyang, 110003
Tel: (24) 2322-2976
Fax: (24) 2322-1505
The office administers U.S. Government’s public affairs, diplomacy, and information programs, including academic and cultural exchanges in Northeast China (Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning provinces). The office is open 08:00-12:00 and 13:00-17:00 Monday – Friday.
Wuhan – Public Affairs Office
New World Trade Tower I, No. 568, Jianshe Avenue, Jianghan District, Wuhan 430022
Tel: (27)8555-7791
Fax: (27)8555-7761
The public affairs office in Wuhan is responsible for carrying out all of the U.S. Government’s information, cultural and educational exchange programs in the Wuhan Consular district (Hubei, Hunan, Henan and Jiangxi). The office is open from 8:00-12:00 and 13:00-17:00 Monday – Friday.
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has collaborated with the government of China and other partners for the past 30 years addressing public health priorities affecting the U.S., China, and the world. After successful collaborations on preventing birth defects and addressing China’s HIV epidemic, the CDC China office has evolved the focus of its technical assistance towards strengthening global health security. CDC continues to collaborate in several related areas, including training field epidemiologists, monitoring influenza, and addressing tuberculosis. In part through CDC’s decades of technical support, China has improved its ability to prevent, detect and respond to disease outbreaks, and even has been able to begin to provide public health support to other countries.
To learn more about CDC’s Center for Global Health, visit CDC – Global Health. For more information about global health protection and workforce development, see Global Health Protection and Security. For more information about influenza, visit Influenza (Flu) | CDC and see COVID-19 Travel Recommendations by Destination | CDC for travel guidance COVID-19.