Max Baucus

CO-EXCLUSIVE
  • U.S. Ambassador to the People's Republic of China (2014-2017)
  • U.S. Senator (D-MT) (1978-2013); Chair, Senate Finance Committee (2007-2014)
  • Board of Directors, Ingram Micro
  • Advisor, Binance Holdings Crypto Exchange

Former United States Senator and Ambassador to China, Max Baucus is a leading voice on business, public policy, and international affairs. In his years as an elected official and diplomat, Baucus was engaged in the most consequential issues of the past half-century, and continues to provide counsel as co-founder of the Baucus Group.

Montana's longest-serving senator Baucus established himself as one of the Senate’s most productive and least partisan members, building a record of accomplishment on a broad range of policy issues both domestic and foreign. As Chair of the Senate Finance Committee for seven years, Baucus served as the principal author and advocate for the Affordable Care Act, and led the passage and enactment of Free Trade Agreements with 11 countries and worked to increase U.S. exports by knocking down trade barriers. He was also deeply involved in orchestrating congressional approval of permanent normal trade relations with China in 2000 and in facilitating China’s entrance into the World Trade Organization in 2001, and is credited with holding China accountable on issues of intellectual property, human rights and currency

In-demand by numerous private companies and public organizations, Baucus currently serves on the board of directors of Ingram Micro and previously served on the board of advisors to Alibaba Group until May of 2019, and the External Advisory Board to the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency until July of 2019.  He now devotes much of his time to the Max S. Baucus Institute at the University of Montana, founded to give young adults opportunities in politics, government, and overseas studies.

 



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Max Baucus headshot
Past Hosts Include:
  • Chinese American Federation
  • Retail Industry Leaders Association
  • LendIt
  • Princeton University
  • AMG National Trust Bank
  • Daiwa Securities Co. Ltd.
  • International Leadership Foundation
Rave Reviews About Max Baucus as a Speaker
We hired Senator Baucus for an event which focused on the China-US economic corridors today and current implications for the future cooperation. He provided a very insightful view about the current and future relations between the 2 countries. Our clients and staff really appreciated his unique perspective. Senator Baucus was a great keynote speaker for our event. Thank you for your recommendation.

News Commentary - Former Ambassador Max Baucus on China's aggression towards Taiwan, Pelosi's visit | CBS News [5:13] - Get Sharable Link
Talks & Conversations with Max Baucus
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Trade and Taxes: What's Next for Businesses, Workers & Consumers?

Drawing on his extensive trade policy experience, Max Baucus decodes how audiences from every industry will be affected by new trade and tax policies. As the former head of the Senate Finance Committee (2007-2014) and Ambassador to China (2014-2017), Baucus adds an insider’s nuance to the debates on ...

Drawing on his extensive trade policy experience, Max Baucus decodes how audiences from every industry will be affected by new trade and tax policies. As the former head of the Senate Finance Committee (2007-2014) and Ambassador to China (2014-2017), Baucus adds an insider’s nuance to the debates on U.S. taxes, sanctions, and tariffs; Asia’s advancement of their own trade agreements with other nations; and the evolving landscape imposed by Europe’s shifting trade environment and the wave of protectionism worldwide.

China: Opportunities and Obstacles

Max Baucus capped his involvement with China as Ambassador to China (2014-2017) not long after President Xi took power. In prior years, he led many delegations to China meeting with past Chinese presidents and premiers and helped spearhead China’s entrance into WTO as well as introducing legislation ...

Max Baucus capped his involvement with China as Ambassador to China (2014-2017) not long after President Xi took power. In prior years, he led many delegations to China meeting with past Chinese presidents and premiers and helped spearhead China’s entrance into WTO as well as introducing legislation establishing PNTR status for China. He was our country’s principle policy broker in China on National Security and economic issues, including the South China Sea and assisting American companies do business in China. He was in Beijing as China spearheaded the creation of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and continued to develop their “One Belt, One Road” policy to restore old maritime and overland trade routes. Baucus is uniquely qualified to speak to the opportunities and obstacles facing the world today especially as they concern Asia.     

What's Next for America's Healthcare?

As the Chair of the Senate Finance Committee (2007-2014), Max Baucus authored and ushered the Affordable Healthcare Act (Obamacare) through Congress, vocal even at the time about his concerns regarding costs and lack of bipartisan support. Baucus discusses the intention and reality of the plan, and ...

As the Chair of the Senate Finance Committee (2007-2014), Max Baucus authored and ushered the Affordable Healthcare Act (Obamacare) through Congress, vocal even at the time about his concerns regarding costs and lack of bipartisan support. Baucus discusses the intention and reality of the plan, and what American people and businesses can expect for the next version of American healthcare legislation.

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<p><strong>Max Baucus is a knowledgeable source about cryptocurrency</strong></p>

Max Baucus is a knowledgeable source about cryptocurrency

Former U.S. Senator and Trade Ambassador MAX BAUCUS is a policy and government-relations advisor for Binance Holdings Ltd., the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange. In this growing field anticipating upcoming regulation practices, Baucus is jumping into the industry to provide guidance and policy advice, as well as to discuss policies and practices affecting the industry with U.S. officials. Baucus was recently tapped to Chair the new Binance Global Advisory Board. Reported by Blockword, Baucus said in a statement: “Of all the technologies with the potential to create positive disruption, the world of crypto, blockchain, and Web3 is among the most exciting and the most promising.”

A popular, sought-out speaker on what’s next in business, foreign affairs, healthcare, and more, Baucus now shares with audiences what is upcoming in the growing field of cryptocurrency, blockchain supply and inventory management.

<p><strong>Max Baucus in the News</strong></p>

Max Baucus in the News

Former U.S. Senator and Ambassador to China, MAX BAUCUS is a leading voice on business, public policy, and international affairs. As the former head of the Senate Finance Committee (2007-2014) and Ambassador to China (2014-2017), Baucus adds an insider’s nuance to the debates on U.S. taxes, sanctions, and tariffs. Drawing on his extensive trade policy experience, Baucus decodes how audiences from every industry will be affected by new trade and tax policies.

Here’s how Baucus is connecting with today’s news:

8.11.2023  Why Young People are the Future Now  |  China U.S. Focus

7.26.2023  Resetting Relations  |  China-United States Exchange Foundation

4.18.2023  Protecting American Businesses Starts with Increasing Transparency at the USITC  |  Harvard Kennedy School Review

3.08.2023  Former U.S. Ambassador to China Discusses Deterioriating U.S.-China Relationships  |  CNN World

2.10.2023  Playbook: Why One Ex-Envoy Thinks We’re Getting China Wrong  |  Politico

<p>Max Baucus offers shrewd insights on affordable healthcare </p>

Max Baucus offers shrewd insights on affordable healthcare 

Known for his instrumental leadership in crafting and passing the Affordable Care Act through Congress, Former U.S. Senator and Ambassador to China MAX BAUCUS is a leading voice on the ongoing healthcare debate. Sought-out to discuss the topic at the Aspen Ideas Festival, Baucus brings tremendous first-hand policy experience to the issue. As Chair of the Senate Finance Committee (2007-14), Baucus ushered the Affordable Care Act through Congress, even while he was vocal about his concerns regarding costs and lack of bipartisan support-- two issues which now threaten the Act's durability. Heralded for his breadth of insight and candor, Baucus is praised by audiences for his willingness to dive into the issues. Reviews from his recent events include: "[Sen Baucus] provided a very insightful view... Our clients and staff really appreciated his unique perspective. Sen Baucus was a great keynote speaker for our event" (Major Multinational Bank). 

<p>Max Baucus is a leading voice on Asia </p>

Max Baucus is a leading voice on Asia 

Former U.S. Senator (D-MT) (1978-2013) and Ambassador to China (2014-17) MAX BAUCUS is a foremost authority on Asia, regularly in-demand for his prescient and substantive analysis. Awarded for his outstanding achievements in public service by the U.S.-China Policy Foundation, Baucus is renowned for his extensive work in normalizing relations with China, and for facilitating the country’s entrance into the World Trade Organization in 2001. While Ambassador to China, Baucus served as the United States' principle policy broker on national security and economic issues, and was in Beijing as China spearheaded the creation of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and continued to develop their “One Belt, One Road” policy.  Thanks to his expertise, Baucus has been sought-out to speak at elite conferences throughout the region, such as: HSBC’s China Forum, JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s China Forum, the LendIt Fintech Conference in Shanghai (where his remarks made headlines in Forbes), and the Daiwa Capital Markets Conference in Tokyo. Baucus is also a fixture on major media networks, regularly delivering shrewd insights on U.S.-China trade relations and security issues with North Korea on Bloomberg, CNN, CNBC’s Squawk Box, and more. Currently Co-Chair of Farmers for Free Trade, Baucus remains a vocal advocate for free trade agreements, plugged into what is and isn’t achievable in Washington. He is heralded for his candid insights and extensive policy knowledge at each of his engagements, earning rave reviews such as: “We hired Senator Baucus for an event which focused on the China-US economic corridors today and current implications for the future cooperation. He provided a very insightful view about the current and future relations between the 2 countries. Our clients and staff really appreciated his unique perspective. Senator Baucus was a great keynote speaker for our event.” (Major Multinational Bank)

<p>Max Baucus speaks at major outlets, offering straight-talk on healthcare, China, and tax reform</p>

Max Baucus speaks at major outlets, offering straight-talk on healthcare, China, and tax reform

Former Ambassador to China and longtime Senator to Montana, MAX BAUCUS dives into today’s most pressing issues on Bloomberg and CNBC, drawing on his expertise to offer frank and insightful analysis. As a Senator from 1978-2013, Baucus worked in Washington under six different administrations, which has provided him with remarkable experience and insight on a wide range of policy issues and the inner workings of how Congress thinks and acts. On Bloomberg, Baucus illuminates how vastly complicated passing health care reform is based on his tremendous experience on the Senate Finance Committee, citing the two years it took to craft the Affordable Health Care Act. He also offers a warning against the border adjustment tax, and the impact it could have on U.S. relations with China. Baucus is respected both on and off the hill for his straight-shooter analysis and deep knowledge of what it takes to make and pass policy, two elements that were on brilliant display during his news appearances.

Watch Baucus shed light on the future of U.S.-China relations on Bloomberg >>
<p>Looking for a substantive speaker on taxes and trade? Max Baucus brings gravitas to the discussion</p>

Looking for a substantive speaker on taxes and trade? Max Baucus brings gravitas to the discussion

MAX BAUCUS has extensive experience in Congress brokering trade deals globally, gained specific knowledge of the Asian trade environment while serving as ambassador to China.  He is a knowledgeable, substantive speaker with inside knowledge of how the deals get done and what's at stake. The first day's agenda of the White House focused on the economy, trade and jobs, withdrawing from the TPP agreement and promising to tax firms that move operations overseas.  What does this mean for corporations watching their cost structures, for consumers watching their wallets, and for American jobs? Meanwhile, Asia is marching forth with trade agreements with other nations excluding the U.S. and Brexit is shifting the European trade environment. 

Contact us to learn more about Max Baucus as a speaker on trade and taxes >>
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Biography

Max Baucus is a former United States senator and ambassador to China, active today in business, public policy, and international affairs. In his years as an elected official and diplomat he was engaged in the most consequential issues of the past half-century, and continues to provide counsel as co-founder of the Baucus Group. He is a native of Montana – the state where he was raised in a ranching family, appeared on the ballot nine times, and never lost an election.

After earning degrees in economics and law at Stanford University, he took up the legal profession and by 1973 held his first public office, as a Montana state representative. The following year, he was elected to the first of two terms as congressman from Montana’s first district, serving in the House during the post-Watergate years of the Ford and Carter presidencies. In all, his Congressional career extended across seven presidential administrations, during which time he gained a reputation as a determined, capable legislator who worked easily with colleagues.

First elected to the Senate in 1978, Baucus went on to be his state’s longest-serving senator, and a steady legislative influence in the tradition of his friend and political model, Montana’s Senator Mike Mansfield. On a broad range of policy issues both domestic and foreign, he established himself as one of the Senate’s most productive and least partisan members, building a record of accomplishment in areas from agriculture and environmental protection to public works, taxes, and trade. As a home-state newspaper put it, “those who knew him best say Baucus was a senator who worked the legislative trenches to tackle problems he saw facing Montana, rural America and the nation – regardless of the politics.”

On the Senate Agriculture Committee, he led in securing reauthorization of numerous farm bills. As a member of the Committee on Environment and Public Works, he guided many highway bills and other infrastructure legislation to passage. He was Vice Chairman of the Joint Committee on Taxation, and was appointed to the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction – or “Super Committee” – the Congressional effort to stabilize government finances in the years after the crisis of 2008. 

During his fifth term, Senator Baucus rose to the chairmanship of the Committee on Finance, a position of far-reaching responsibility. During his seven-year tenure as chairman, he was the principal author and advocate for the Affordable Care Act, signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2009. He led as well in gaining approval for new free trade agreements with 11 nations.

A longtime supporter of a broader, rule-based trading system, the Senator was instrumental in opening permanent normal trade relations with China, and in promoting that country’s 2001 entry into the World Trade Organization.

With his sixth term drawing to a close, Senator Baucus announced that he would not seek re-election in 2014. That same year, President Obama nominated him to be America’s ambassador to China. Confirmed by unanimous vote of the Senate, he represented the United States in that post until January 2017.

Following his diplomatic assignment, Senator Baucus and his wife Melodee Hanes formed the Baucus Group LLC. He currently serves on the board of directors of Ingram Micro and previously served on the board of advisors to Alibaba Group until may of 2019, and the External Advisory Board to the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency until July of 2019. He now devotes much of his time to the Max S. Baucus Institute at the University of Montana, founded to give young adults opportunities in politics, government, and overseas studies.

The Senator and Melodee Hanes have a blended family of two sons, a daughter, and two granddaughters, and make their home in Bozeman, Montana.