How the smartphone completely transformed China in a decade
Dec 30, inkstone
China has rapidly evolved from a copier to an innovator. the country quickly leapfrogged personal computer technology and promptly moved to mobile devices. READ MORE
What’s in Store for China’s Economy in 2020?
Dec 28, The Diplomat
The hardship of 2019 is probably just the start of difficulties. China’s cumulative debt now tops 300 percent of GDP and IMF experts warned as early as January 2018 of the dangerous trajectory of the country’s credit growth. READ MORE
U.S. and China are edging toward partial economic divorce
Dec 27, The Washington Post
Away from the trade talks, the Commerce Department is poised to issue new regulations to prohibit exports of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence to China. READ MORE
Where is Corporate Social Credit Going in 2020 and Beyond?
Dec 27, China Business Review
SCS will eventually have ramifications for every company doing business in China, policymakers have placed a special focus on implementation in industries they feel are most in need of regulation. READ MORE
China Advertising Year in Review: Trends from 2019
Dec 26, eMarketer
Here are some trends that took off in China in 2019 and should stay on marketers’ radar in 2020. READ MORE
China’s greatest risk is not opening up the market to foreigners
Dec 26, CNBC
Trade tensions with the U.S. have put pressure on China to respond to long-standing complaints that key local industries are off-limits to foreign companies, and that domestic players have an unfair advantage in China’s state-controlled economy. READ MORE
2019: Turning Point for Investors in China?
Dec 23, China Briefing
China’s 2019 was a remarkable year, but generally for all the wrong reasons. READ MORE
Sluggish Property Market
Dec 21, South China Morning Post
Guangzhou has joined China’s three other first-tier cities – Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen – in relaxing restrictions on buying flats sold by private developers, as it seeks to give the sluggish property market a push. READ MORE
China car sales set for third year of decline in 2020
Dec 12, South China Morning News
China’s car sales fell by 9.1 per cent in the first 11 months of 2019, having slid 3 per cent last year in the first sales contraction since the 1990s. READ MORE
China’s pork price jumps 110 per cent, consumer inflation rockets to eight-year high
Dec 10, South China Morning News
Food inflation continued to climb on the back of disruptions to pork supply caused by African swine fever. READ MORE
China’s Financial Warning Signs Are Flashing Almost Everywhere
Nov 29, Bloomberg News
From rural bank runs to surging consumer indebtedness and an unprecedented bond restructuring, mounting signs of financial stress in China are putting the nation’s policy makers to the test. READ MORE
11 mind-blowing facts about China’s economy
Nov 28, msn money
The modern Chinese economy is full of surprises. There’s a lot more to China’s economy than the goods it exports to the U.S. READ MORE
China’s Economy Slows for 7th Month, Early Indicators Show
Nov 27, Yahoo Finance
Economic growth was already the slowest in almost three decades in the third quarter, and Bloomberg Economics’ gauge aggregating the earliest data from financial markets and businesses shows that continuing, with a worsening picture for trade, sales manager sentiment, and factory prices. READ MORE
China’s shoppers are still going strong
Nov 18, CNN Business
Chinese consumers continue to spend, despite concerns about tariffs imposed on the country by the Trump Administration. Chinese companies are reporting robust earnings. READ MORE
Rising pork prices hide a far bigger problem for China’s economy
Nov 17, South China Morning News
Rising pork prices have put the spotlight on a rise in consumer inflation. Pork is the largest item in China’s CPI basket as it is the most important staple food for Chinese citizens. READ MORE
Investors Should Worry Less About the Trade War and More About China’s Economy
Nov 15, Barron’s
The latest China economic data came in weaker than expected. Growth in fixed asset investments outside of rural areas slipped to 5.2% and industrial production growth tumbled to 4.7% in October. READ MORE
Chinese Singles’ Day Blows Away Thanksgiving Weekend
Nov 7, statista
China is gearing up for what may well be the biggest online shopping event in the world: Singles’ Day. READ MORE
Most high-speed railway lines in China are losing money
Nov 5, inkstone
The financial woes of China’s high-speed operators came to light unexpectedly due to disclosures made by the country’s most profitable line, which connects the capital city of Beijing to the financial hub of Shanghai, as part of its initial public offering. READ MORE
China is the world’s biggest mining country
Nov 4, statista
Chinese supermarkets tap online to boost bricks-and-mortar stores
Oct 31, South China Morning Post
Customers can get their vegetables, meat and seafood delivered within a five kilometer radius within an hour. READ MORE
China’s moves to boost foreign business also help Chinese companies
Oct 28, CNBC
The entrance of foreign financial institutions could help Chinese individuals and companies get better access to global markets. READ MORE
The US just moved ahead of China in quantum computing. But the race isn’t over.
Oct 24, CNN Business
The first country to achieve quantum encryption could theoretically go completely “dark” to its rivals, hiding all its information from traditional digital surveillance methods. On the flip side, major gains in quantum computing could undo existing means of keeping data secret. READ MORE
Tesla gets approval to start manufacturing in China
Oct 17, Reuters
The factory, China’s first fully foreign-owned car plant, also reflects Beijing’s broader shift to open up its car market. READ MORE
Citi to Set Up Wholly Owned Securities Business in China
Oct 15, Caixin
A late entrant into China’s securities market, Citigroup is among the first global banks planning to take advantage of China’s decision to allow full foreign ownership of financial services companies in the country. The securities regulator last week said overseas institutions can apply for total control starting in 2020. READ MORE
China’s factory prices post steepest fall in three years
Oct 15, Reuters
In contrast, China’s consumer prices rose at their fastest pace in almost six years driven mostly by the surge in pork prices as African swine fever ravaged the country’s hog herds. READ MORE
‘Golden week’ property sales plunge in major Chinese cities
Oct 8, South China Morning News
Traditionally a peak period for sales, the seven-day holiday drew little interest from buyers who were unwilling to pursue big investments at a time when the national economy faces a slowdown caused by the trade war with the United States. READ MORE
China’s ‘Golden Week’ consumer spending offers economy rare respite
Oct 7, Reuters
Spending on retail goods and dining during China’s week long National Day holidays returned to growth this year, offering unexpected respite to an economy that has been expanding at its weakest pace in almost three decades. This year’s gain is still modest compared with the double-digit percentage increases in previous years. READ MORE
Why are Chinese suddenly buying more instant noodles?
Oct 7, inkstone
Instant noodle and car sales are often used together to gauge whether Chinese consumers are upgrading their spending – buying more expensive items – or downgrading their consumption by buying cheaper alternatives and saving more. READ MORE
Samsung ends mobile phone production in China
Oct 2, 2019 Reuters
Sony also said it was closing its Beijing smartphone plant and would only make smartphones in Thailand. But Apple still makes major products in China. READ MORE
Indigenous Vehicles Dominate Chinese Electric Car Sales
Sep 30, Statista
The latest analysis of plug-in electric vehicle sales in China, finds that the BAIC EU-Series was the top-selling model between January and August of this year. READ MORE
Shipping from China to get pricier after Trump complained
Sept 26, 2019 inkstone
The US will be allowed to raise the cost of shipping goods from China. Under the existing arrangement, as a developing country, China pays cheaper so-called terminal dues than developed countries such as the US. This means shipping within the US can sometimes be more costly than shipping from China. READ MORE
McDonald’s says online food delivery services is burger chain’s biggest revenue driver
Sept 25, 2019 South China Morning New
More than one-fifth of McDonald’s overall revenue on the mainland now comes from delivery services thanks to the growing popularity of these food apps and the country’s well entrenched mobile payment culture. READ MORE
Financial assets held by Chinese households dropped for first time since 2000
Sept 19, 2019 South China Morning Post
Mainland China last year dropped three places to 34th in a global ranking of the richest countries by financial assets per capita. READ MORE
Trade War Update: More China Stimulus, Fewer China Shoppers
Sept 18, 2019 Forbes
Exports to China are shrinking. China shoppers aren’t shopping. Fiscal spending combined with tax cuts, regulatory rollbacks and targeted monetary easing are geared to offsetting the effect of the trade war. The stimulus is targeting private companies that have historically had trouble accessing credit. READ MORE
China’s slowdown deepens; industrial output growth falls to 17-1/2 year low
Sept 16, 2019 Reuters
Industrial output growth unexpectedly weakened to 4.4% in August from the same period a year earlier, the slowest pace since February 2002. Retail sales and investment gauges worsened too reinforcing views that China is likely to cut some key interest rates this week for the first time in over three years to prevent a sharper slump in activity. READ MORE
Huawei ready to sell 5G tech to a Western buyer
Sept 12, 2019 South China Morning News
Huawei is willing to give buyers perpetual access to Huawei’s existing 5G patents, licenses, code, technical blueprints and production know-how for a one-time fee. READ MORE
Why American Companies Choose China Over Everyone Else
Sept 3, 2019 Forbes
For all-around emerging market manufacturing know-how, for reliability, for currency stability, for safety and for domestic market growth, China is No. 1. The rest are more like No. 100. No one comes close in the developing world to China. READ MORE
What Is a Fapiao? How Does It Work? When Do I Need One?
Aug 29, 2019 The Beijinger
There are two types of fapiao: General fapiao and Special fapiao. Fapiao are officially business records, so you’ll need to ask for one whenever you need to prove a purchase or claim expenses. READ MORE
The US-China Trade War: A Timeline
Aug 26, 2019 China Briefing
So far, the US has already slapped tariffs on US$250 billion worth of Chinese products, and has threatened more. China, for its part, has set tariffs on US$185 billion worth of US goods, and is threatening both tariffs and qualitative measures that would affect US businesses operating in China. READ MORE
Red Lobster eyes big expansion in China
Aug 21, 2019 inkstone
China will eventually be a larger market for the casual dining chain than Canada and Japan.
“China is very likely to be our largest international market likely by a pretty wide margin over time.” READ MORE
How China’s new interest rate reforms will work
Aug 19, 2019 Reuters
China’s central bank pushed out long-awaited interest rate reforms on Saturday by establishing a reference rate for new loans issued by banks to help steer corporate borrowing costs lower and support a slowing economy. READ MORE
Mooncakes filled with chicken and then some
Aug 8, 2019 inkstone
The biggest fast-food chain in China, Kentucky Fried Chicken, has launched its own take on mooncakes, a (usually) sweet treat reserved for the Mid-Autumn Festival. The festival falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. This year, that’s on September 13. VIEW MORE
‘Made in China 2025’ plan is a linchpin of Northeastern rust belt’s future
Aug 8, 2019 South China Morning News
Among the US concerns over the Made in China 2025 plan is the amount of subsidies the Chinese government at all levels provides to hi-tech startups so that they can compete with rival US companies. READ MORE
KFC Plans Expansion on Strong Chicken Sales
July 31, 2019 Caixin
Yum China owner of KFC in China is facing more competition as the Chinese restaurant market gets increasingly crowded. Burger King, Tim Hortons and Starbucks Corp. are expanding quickly. Yum China now expects 800 to 850 new locations this year across multiple brands, up from an earlier estimate of 650. READ MORE
China has more companies on Fortune Global 500 list than the US
July 22, 2019 South China Morning Post
A total of 129 companies, including 10 from Taiwan, were ranked among the world’s biggest firms by operating revenue. READ MORE
China drafts plan to make it easier to do business
July 14, 2019 Reuters
China has come up with measures to make it easier to do business in the world’s second largest economy, from nurturing private enterprises to widening market access, as economic growth slows amid a protracted trade war with the United States. READ MORE
China expanding free-trade zones as part of opening up its economy
July 10, 2019 RT Business
China’s Ministry of Commerce has announced plans to establish six new pilot free-trade zones (FTZs), as well as the expansion of the Shanghai free-trade zone. READ MORE
Setting Up a Joint Venture in China
July 4,2019 China Briefing
For businesses that wish to adopt a joint venture structure in China, there are several preliminary issues to consider… READ MORE
Foreign Investors’ Top Ten 2019 Business Websites About China
Jun 26,2019 China Briefing
The number of China-focused, English language business blogs and websites has fallen off considerably over the past few years… READ MORE
China’s ‘Fapiao’ Invoice System Explained
June 6, 2019 China Briefing
A fapiao is a legal receipt that serves as proof of purchase for goods and services. The larger fapiao invoice system, however, is an essential component of China’s tax law, and compliance for businesses. Foreign businesspeople and companies should take the time to understand the fapiao system. READ MORE
China’s Most Popular Digital Payment Services
Mar 19, 2019 Statistic
60 percent of respondents said they used digital financial services daily. READ MORE
Beijing and Shanghai Remove Bank Account Approval Requirements
May 2, 2019 China Briefing
Last year, China made dramatic improvements to its ease of doing business rankings, jumping from 78 to 46 in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Report. Read More
FIEs in China Must Comply with New Digital Reporting Requirements
March 27, 2019 China Briefing
Foreign invested enterprises (FIEs) set up and registered within China shall, between April 1 and June 30, 2019, log onto the “System for Online Joint Reporting and Sharing of Information on Annual Investments and Operations of FIEs Nationwide” to report their investment and operation details for 2018. Read More
China’s Trademark Regime: How to Protect Your Brand in the Mainland
March 25, 2019 China Briefing
Well-known brands often don’t need to register their trademarks, but China’s laws follow a first-to-file system. It also does not recognize trademarks registered in other jurisdictions. Read More
China’s New Foreign Investment Law
March 20, 2019 China Briefing
Observers believe the law’s sudden rush to the spotlight is an attempt by the Chinese government to respond to international criticism from the US and others about China’s openness – or lack thereof – to foreign businesses. Read More
For Foreign Businesses: Navigating the Internet in China
March 12, 2019 China Briefing
Internet providers and connection speeds; The process for setting up a website in China; China’s cybersecurity law; How to create a China internet strategy; plus more information.
Company Chops in China: What Are They and How to Use Them
March 11, 2019 China Briefing
An official company chop – sometimes referred to as a seal or stamp – is a necessity for doing business in China. In contrast to business places in the West, management and administrative teams in China use the chop to legally authorize documents, often in place of a signature. Read More
Shutting Down a China WFOE
Jan 29, 2019 China Law Blog
PRC law requires all corporations (foreign and domestic) follow a formal de-registration procedure be followed. READ MORE
Dangers of WeChat for China Employers
Jan 28, 2019 China Law Blog
What you say or write on WeChat may be used against you in an employment dispute. READ MORE
Beginner Mistakes To Avoid When Doing Business In China
Jan 10, 2019 Forbes
If you’re considering doing business in this growing market, here is a list of top dos and don’ts. READ MORE
New Laws in China to Impact Business, Trade from Jan 1, 2019
Dec 20, 2018 China Briefing
To ensure your business stays compliant in 2019, this article lists out the most important regulatory changes that you should pay attention to. They range from tax reform to international tariff agreements. READ MORE
Things to Know Before Doing Business in China
Dec 19, 2018 Entrepreneur.com
Never ever count on a sole source of information to make your decision; double check it before you give money out. READ MORE
Skyscraper Construction: Nobody Comes Close To China
Dec 14 2018, Statista
China is at the forefront of the boom in skyscraper construction, building 88 in total in 2018. READ MORE
Capital Requirements for Establishing a WFOE in China
Nov 22, 2018 Sapore di Cina
In the past, companies could be required to have capital of upwards of 500.000 RMB for consulting and trading WFOEs, with higher requirements for manufacturing WFOEs. However, starting in 2014, the rules changed. READ MORE
China Ranks 46th in Ease of Doing Business Rankings
November 5, 2018 China Briefing
Ease of doing business in China received some validation as the World Bank’s newly released rankings showed the country rise by 32 spots. It is also worth noting that while China has greatly improved in the ease of doing business rankings, foreign business sentiment has soured considerably. READ MORE
How to Setup a Company in China as a Foreigner
November 2, 2018 Sapore di Cina
If you intend to hire a large number of workers in China (let’s say more than five), receive payments in China without paying commission to an intermediate company, open a factory (or even a firm that requires specific structures), then opening a company in China is absolutely necessary. READ MORE
Branding in China: Key Tips for Foreign Businesses
October 23, 2018 China Briefing
Penetrating the Chinese market successfully means businesses have been able to distinguish their products from substitutes in the market. Achieving this level of brand consciousness can be challenging; promoting a brand in China is different from that in the rest of the world. READ MORE
An Introduction to Doing Business in China 2018-19
October 1, 2018 China Briefing
Doing Business in China 2018-19 is designed to introduce the fundamentals of investing in China. This comprehensive e-publication is ideal not only for businesses looking to enter the Chinese market, but also for companies who already have a presence here and want to keep up-to-date with the most recent and relevant policy changes. READ MORE
2018 American Business in China White Paper
March 2018 AmCham China
As one of the most comprehensive assessments of the operating environment for foreign companies in China, the 2018 White Papers contains nearly 40 chapters and provides an in-depth description and analysis a variety of industries, cross-sector issues, and regions of importance to members. READ MORE