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Economy & Trade

Selling to China: How to Leverage Opportunities from CIIE 2026

11/05/2026

The CIIE opens doors to China’s market, but deals are won afterwards. Here is how to choose an entry route, stay compliant, and turn contacts into sales.

EU-China Relations After the 2024 European Elections: A Timeline

11/05/2026

Timeline tracking key developments affecting EU-China relations, including trade and business engagement, under the new European Parliament.

China Proposes Export Curbs on AI, Biopharma, and Solar Tech – How Will It Impact China Sourcing?

11/02/2026

China has proposed export curbs on 40 AI, biopharma, and solar technologies. While exemptions limit the impact on AI and biopharma, China’s dominance in solar leaves the industry exposed.

China’s Economy Expands 4.5% in Q3 on Back of Tech-Driven Export Boom

10/21/2026

GDP accelerated from the second quarter, propelled by a surge in high-tech manufacturing and exports. We explore the key trends shaping the outlook for foreign businesses.

China Outbound Direct Investment (ODI) Tracker 2026

10/15/2026

In this China Outbound Direct Investment (ODI) Tracker, China Briefing offers up-to-date data and insights on China’s outbound investment developments and trends. Data is as of October 2026.

Free Trade Zones (FTZs) in China: Benefits, Eligibility, and How to Choose the Right One

10/06/2026

China now operates 23 pilot free trade zones (FTZs) alongside the Hainan Free Trade Port, each offering a different mix of market access openings, customs facilitation, financial pilots, and, in a handful of locations, reduced tax rates.

Tax & Accounting

Hong Kong’s Evolving Double Tax Agreement (DTA) Network 2026

11/09/2026

Hong Kong’s double tax agreement network has reached a new milestone, with fresh treaties and active negotiations shaping the 2026 outlook. Understanding how Hong Kong’s DTAs work is essential for investors and multinationals planning cross-border operations.

Employee Equity Incentive Plans in China: Preferential Tax Policies (Part II)

10/20/2026

Equity incentive plans in China may qualify for preferential tax treatment, including deferred or instalment payments. Companies should understand eligibility requirements, filing obligations, and plan design considerations to manage employee tax burdens and ensure compliance.

Tax Implications of Employee Equity Incentive Plans – A Guide for Businesses in China (Part I)  

10/19/2026

Equity incentive plans in China are subject to specific individual income tax rules. Companies and their employees should understand when tax liabilities arise, how taxable income is calculated, and which tax rates apply to different types of equity incentives.

Repatriating Dividends from Hong Kong: A Guide for Foreign Investors

10/19/2026

Hong Kong offers one of Asia's most straightforward dividend repatriation regimes, with no withholding tax on outbound dividends and no exchange controls. However, foreign investors must still navigate company law requirements, holding company substance tests, and home-country tax exposure to ensure distributions are both lawful and tax-efficient.

Beneficial Owner Status in China: What a Supreme People’s Court Case Study Teaches Foreign Investors

10/16/2026

A Hong Kong holding company lost its 5% dividend rate. Our case study explains the beneficial owner status test in China and how to prepare.

How to Choose an Accounting Service Provider in China: A Practical Guide for Foreign Investors and SMEs

10/14/2026

Choosing an accounting service provider in China? Compare the tiers, check licences and signing CPAs, and see what the revised CPA Law means for your annual audit.

Legal & Regulatory

Overseas Listings by Chinese Companies - Key Compliance Considerations

11/09/2026

China’s new ODI regulations introduce new compliance considerations for Chinese companies planning overseas listings, with implications for red-chip structures, offshore SPVs, SAFE Circular 37 registration, and employee equity incentive plans. 

China Proposes Export Curbs on AI, Biopharma, and Solar Tech – How Will It Impact China Sourcing?

11/02/2026

China has proposed export curbs on 40 AI, biopharma, and solar technologies. While exemptions limit the impact on AI and biopharma, China’s dominance in solar leaves the industry exposed.

How to Leverage China’s FTZ Data Negative Lists to Streamline Data Export 

10/29/2026

China’s free trade zones are easing cross-border data transfers for companies in key industries, but eligibility varies by zone and industry and needs careful assessment.

Hong Kong vs Singapore vs Cayman: Comparing Fund Domiciles for Asia-Focused Managers

10/28/2026

Choosing a Hong Kong vs Singapore vs Cayman fund domicile? Learn how OFCs, VCCs, and Cayman structures differ in taxation, fundraising, and regulatory requirements.

China's AI Regulation in 2026: New Laws, Rules, and Compliance Requirements

10/24/2026

China placed comprehensive AI legislation on its legislative agenda in 2026 and introduced new rules for human-like AI companion services and AI agents. In the first article of our two-part series, we outline these developments and what they mean for businesses developing and deploying AI in China.

Trust and Fiduciary Services in Hong Kong: What Foreign Investors Need to Know

10/23/2026

Hong Kong offers a mature and regulated trust environment supported by modern trust legislation and a comprehensive licensing regime for trust and company service providers. This guide explains the legal framework, licensing requirements, tax considerations, and key due diligence steps foreign investors should consider when establishing a trust structure in Hong Kong.

Industries

How to Set Up a Consulting or Professional Services Company in China

11/03/2026

We walk foreign investors through key decisions on how to set up a consulting or professional services company in China.

China's Chemical Industry: Where to Invest in 2026?

10/01/2026

Profits across China's petroleum and chemical industry fell again in 2025, yet BASF and ExxonMobil have recently opened their largest wholly owned plants in the country. We explain the paradox, where the opportunities lie, and what the new Hazardous Chemicals Safety Law means for foreign investors.

China's Wine Market in 2026: What the Data Show for European and International Producers

09/29/2026

China imported approximately 101.4 million litres of wine in the first half of 2026, worth around US$716 million. Import volume fell 11 percent year on year, while import value increased 0.8 percent. The average import price rose 13.3 percent to US$7.07 per litre.

China Manufacturing Tracker 2026

09/07/2026

Our tracker provides continuous updates on key economic and growth indicators in China’s manufacturing industry. The data for June and July 2026 has now been updated.

How Can Foreign F&B Brands Enter China? Food Franchising Models and Market Entry Considerations

08/12/2026

Foreign food and beverage chains are expanding in China through franchising and local capital. We compare the entry models open to foreign F&B brands and the compliance steps that determine success.

China's Food Franchising Market in 2026: US Chains Return as the Industry Consolidates

08/12/2026

US food chain brands are entering or re-entering China at the fastest pace in years, relying on franchising and local capital partners to expand in a RMB 5.8 trillion (US$833.8 billion) catering market that is growing more slowly but consolidating rapidly around chains. We examine the data behind the trend.

HR & Payroll

China Public Holiday Schedule 2027: Official Calendar & Working Days

11/06/2026

China's 2027 public holiday calendar includes 13 statutory holidays, and five adjusted weekend working days. View the full schedule.

China Salary and Benefits Benchmarking: How Foreign Employers Should Budget

11/04/2026

Foreign employers hiring in China must budget for far more than base salary, from statutory contributions and bonuses to long-term raises and promotions.

Employee Equity Incentive Plans in China: Preferential Tax Policies (Part II)

10/20/2026

Equity incentive plans in China may qualify for preferential tax treatment, including deferred or instalment payments. Companies should understand eligibility requirements, filing obligations, and plan design considerations to manage employee tax burdens and ensure compliance.

Tax Implications of Employee Equity Incentive Plans – A Guide for Businesses in China (Part I)  

10/19/2026

Equity incentive plans in China are subject to specific individual income tax rules. Companies and their employees should understand when tax liabilities arise, how taxable income is calculated, and which tax rates apply to different types of equity incentives.

Appointing a Foreign Legal Representative in China: A Practical Guide for Investors

10/12/2026

Appointing a foreign legal representative in China? See the legal duties, immigration and tax steps, and governance controls that keep the role compliant.

Hiring Someone on the Ground in China – Tax and Compliance Considerations 

09/24/2026

Hiring employees in China can create unexpected tax and compliance obligations for FIEs. This guide examines the key issues companies should address when building and managing a local workforce. 

Technology

EU-China Relations After the 2024 European Elections: A Timeline

11/05/2026

Timeline tracking key developments affecting EU-China relations, including trade and business engagement, under the new European Parliament.

How to Leverage China’s FTZ Data Negative Lists to Streamline Data Export 

10/29/2026

China’s free trade zones are easing cross-border data transfers for companies in key industries, but eligibility varies by zone and industry and needs careful assessment.

China Proposes New PI Registration and Oversight Rules for Large Companies

08/20/2026

China's cybersecurity regulator has proposed draft rules requiring large-scale personal information processors to register with the CAC, meet new data centre localisation standards, and establish an independent oversight committee. Here's what the changes could mean for affected companies.

Simplified Personal Information Protection Compliance for Small Companies in China (Part 2)

08/06/2026

China's new provisions ease compliance for small-scale personal information processors around data exports, audits, impact assessments, and penalties. This second part of a two-part series breaks down what's changed and how small businesses should prepare.

Simplified Personal Information Protection Compliance for Small Companies in China (Part 1)

08/06/2026

China has simplified how small-scale personal information processors must formulate and disclose their PI processing rules, easing the notification burden for smaller businesses. This first part of a two-part series looks at who qualifies and what the simplified requirements involve.

Why ERP Deployments in China Go Wrong – And How to Avoid It 

08/04/2026

ERP rollouts in China often fail when technical teams overlook data migration and compliance risks, leading to tax penalties and reporting delays. Here's what goes wrong, and how to fix it.

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