On September 18th, the Congressional Inventions Project hosted more than 100 congressional staff and policy leaders for a panel discussion on the role of intellectual property (IP) in America’s economic competition with China.

The event, co-hosted with RealClearMarkets, highlighted how America’s leadership has long been powered by invention—and by an IP system that rewards risk-taking, secures investment, and helps ideas scale. The panel, titled “Taking on China Through American Innovation,” brought together experts in markets, patents, and trade policy to explore how the U.S. can maintain its edge in an era of faster global competition and strategic rivals.

Speakers

• John Tamny, Editor, RealClearMarkets; President & Founder, Parkview Institute; Senior Fellow, The Market Institute
• Russell Slifer, Former Deputy Director, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office; Patent Expert Witness
• Ambassador Jeffrey Gerrish, Partner, Schagrin Associates; Former Deputy U.S. Trade Representative

Key Takeaways

1. Reliability is the investment signal.
When patent rights are predictable and enforceable, investment flows to R&D, startups hire faster, and supply chains localize around U.S. know-how.

2. Policy coherence matters.
Tax, monetary, patent, and trade policies either reinforce or erode the market. “Pro-IP” isn’t a single statute—it’s a system that must function end-to-end.

3. China as a strategy, not a headline.
Beijing has made IP central to its industrial policy. The U.S. response should focus on improving our own performance—speed, quality, and enforcement—while working with allies on global standards.

4. Trade as a tech guardrail.
Trade policy should deter forced technology transfers and unfair subsidies while preserving open access for American innovators.

Thank You

We’re grateful to John Tamny, Russell Slifer, and Amb. Jeffrey Gerrish for a substantive, candid discussion—and to everyone who joined us, asked sharp questions, and shared insights.

Looking Ahead

The Congressional Inventions Project will continue working with the Congressional Inventions Caucus to bring together inventors, innovators, and policymakers to advance a pro-innovation, pro-American agenda.

If you’d like to connect, suggest future topics, or get involved, please contact:
📧 charles@congressionalinventionsproject.org