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. As 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. He held the position of Chair of the Senate Finance Committee for nearly a decade. 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. Baucus’s insights on all topics politics, policy, and trade are at the cutting edge of international understandings.

In-demand for his views on politics and industry, Baucus serves on the board of Ingram Micro and previously served on the board of advisors to the Alibaba Group and External Advisory Board to the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. 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. His influential voice has been sought by hosts such as Princeton University, AMG National Trust Bank, the Retail Industry Leaders Association, and more.

 


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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
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?

Former head of the Senate Finance Committee and Ambassador to China MAX BAUCUS draws on his extensive trade policy experience to decode how industries will be affected by new trade and tax policies. Baucus combines sharp analysis with an insider’s nuance while sharing his perspective on U.S. taxes, ...

Former head of the Senate Finance Committee and Ambassador to China MAX BAUCUS draws on his extensive trade policy experience to decode how industries will be affected by new trade and tax policies. Baucus combines sharp analysis with an insider’s nuance while sharing his perspective on U.S. taxes, sanctions, and tariffs.

A U.S. Ambassador to China’s Perspective

Former U.S. Ambassador to China MAX BAUCUS led many delegations to China, meeting with past Chinese presidents and premiers to serve as a principal point of contact. Baucus was our country’s lead policy broker in China, assisting American companies pursuing business in the region by restoring old ma ...

Former U.S. Ambassador to China MAX BAUCUS led many delegations to China, meeting with past Chinese presidents and premiers to serve as a principal point of contact. Baucus was our country’s lead policy broker in China, assisting American companies pursuing business in the region by restoring old maritime and overland trade routes. Baucus is uniquely qualified to speak to the opportunities and obstacles facing the world today concerning China and trade.

What's Next for America's Healthcare?

As the Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, MAX BAUCUS authored the Affordable Healthcare Act (Obamacare) before ushering it through Congress. Reflecting on his role in passing this major legislation, Baucus discusses trends in U.S. healthcare funding today, outlining his bipartisan vision for Ame ...

As the Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, MAX BAUCUS authored the Affordable Healthcare Act (Obamacare) before ushering it through Congress. Reflecting on his role in passing this major legislation, Baucus discusses trends in U.S. healthcare funding today, outlining his bipartisan vision for American wellbeing.

Elections, Ideals, & Impact

Former United States Senator and Ambassador to China MAX BAUCUS shares his thoughts on the upcoming election, particularly as candidate platforms pertain to business, public policy, and international affairs. ...

Former United States Senator and Ambassador to China MAX BAUCUS shares his thoughts on the upcoming election, particularly as candidate platforms pertain to business, public policy, and international affairs.

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Speaker News

Former Senator Max Baucus offers shrewd insights on healthcare today

Former U.S. Senator and Ambassador to China MAX BAUCUS brings tremendous first-hand policy experience to the issue. Former Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, Baucus is known for his instrumental leadership in ushering the Affordable Care Act through Congress by vocally advocating for bipartisan support. Baucus continues to publicly addresses the key factors threatening the ACA’s durability and receives praise from audiences for his willingness to dive into the issues. A Major Multinational Bank told us after their event, “Our clients and staff really appreciated his unique perspective. Sen Baucus was a great keynote speaker."

Watch Max Baucus on CBS News >>

Watch Max Baucus in discussion at the Aspen Institute >>

Former U.S. Ambassador to China Max Baucus remains a staunch advocate for Free Trade

Former U.S. Senator (D-MT) and Ambassador to China MAX BAUCUS was a bipartisan ambassador to China, serving under seven administrations. While Ambassador, Baucus served as the principle policy broker on national security and economic issues.  A foremost authority on Asia, Baucus continues to provide diplomatic insight relations via China-U.S. Focus. Baucus has been sought-out to speak at elite conferences throughout the region, including: HSBC’s China Forum, JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s China Forum, the LendIt Fintech Conference in Shanghai, and the Daiwa Capital Markets Conference in Tokyo.

The Chinese American Federation, who invited Baucus to speak at their celebration of the 40th anniversary of U.S.-China Diplomatic Relations, said, "The event was a great success!! We have received many compliments and positive feedback."

Watch Max Baucus on CBS News >>

Watch Max Baucus’ keynote and Q&A with FVCC >>

Max Baucus on taxes, trade, and the upcoming election

Former U.S. Senator and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance MAX BAUCUS can explain the impact of election outcomes on the economy, trade, and jobs in any industry. With his extensive experience in Congress brokering global trade deals, 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, regularly sharing his insights with hosts such as Daiwa Securities Co., AMG National Trust Bank, the Retail Industry Leaders Association, and more.

Watch Max Baucus in discussion with the Aspen Institute >>

Watch Max Baucus’s keynote at LendIt >>

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. 

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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.