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Jennifer Pak

China Correspondent

SHORT BIO

Jennifer is Marketplace’s China correspondent, based in Shanghai. She tells stories about the world’s second-biggest economy and why Americans should care about it.

She arrived in Beijing in 2006 with few journalism contacts but quickly set up her own news bureau. Her work has appeared in many news outlets, including the BBC, NPR and The Financial Times. After covering the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Jennifer moved to Kuala Lumpur to be the BBC’s Malaysia correspondent. She reported on the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 and Edward Snowden’s brief escape to Hong Kong. Jennifer returned to China in 2015, based in the high-tech hub of Shenzhen, before joining Marketplace two years later.

In 2022, Jennifer, along with 25 million Shanghai residents, was locked down for over 60 days and had to scramble for food. The coverage of the pandemic she and her team produced helped earn them a Gracie and a National Headliner Award in 2023. You can see the food Jennifer was able to get during the Shanghai lockdown here and keep up with her tasty finds across China on Instagram at @jpakradio.

Latest Stories (236)

What worries China's manufacturers more than tariffs? Labor shortages

Dec 4, 2018
The country's workforce has shrunk 3 percent from 2012 to 2017; now its economy is slowing.
Huade High Voltage Electric needs a dozen more workers to keep up with demand.
Jennifer Pak/Marketplace

Trump hits the pause button on raising tariffs on Chinese goods

Dec 3, 2018
The U.S. has delayed a tariff hike for 90 days while it negotiates with China.
At a news stand in Beijing, a newspaper features a story about the meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
GREG BAKER/AFP/Getty Images

China opens trade fair to rebrand itself as an importer

Nov 5, 2018
The world's top exporter aims to trim its trade surplus, but the U.S. and companies want faster liberalization.

Tariffs? China's nut and bolt industry has survived them

Oct 30, 2018
When the EU cracked down, Chinese companies turned to U.S. market. Now, they may do the reverse.
A display case at a nut and bolt industry fair in Shanghai in October 2018.
Charles Zhang/Marketplace

Tariffs? China's nut and bolt industry has survived them

Oct 30, 2018
When the EU cracked down, Chinese companies turned to U.S. market. Now, they may do the reverse.
A display case at a nut and bolt industry fair in Shanghai in October 2018.
Charles Zhang/Marketplace

China's latest buzz term could worry businesses

Oct 19, 2018
"Consumption downgrade" is a popular phrase as Chinese consumers curb spending.
The success of firms selling instant noodles and pickled mustard greens have fueled a perception among Chinese citizens that the country is on a “consumption downgrade.”
Jennifer Pak/Marketplace

China's latest buzz term could worry businesses

Oct 19, 2018
"Consumption downgrade" is a popular phrase as Chinese consumers curb spending.
The success of firms selling instant noodles and pickled mustard greens have fueled a perception among Chinese citizens that the country is on a “consumption downgrade.”
Jennifer Pak/Marketplace

How will the USMCA trade deal impact China?

Oct 4, 2018
Some firms are adding production lines in other Asian countries.
Employees work on an SUV production line at the Beijing Automotive Group Co. in Beijing in August.
Nicolas Asfouri/AFP/Getty Images