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Economy & Trade

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.

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

10/13/2026

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

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.

Exporting Wine to China in 2026: Market Access and Strategies for European Producers

09/29/2026

European wine enters China at a 14 percent tariff disadvantage to Australia, Chile, and other free trade partners, and must meet updated registration rules and a new labeling standard. In the second of two articles, we look at market access requirements and what China's changing wine market means for European producers.

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.

Xi-Trump Meeting: Four Takeaways from the Washington Visit for Businesses

09/29/2026

Xi Jinping's official state visit to Washington, DC, has led to a two-month extension to the tariff truce, providing important, if short-lived, clarity for businesses.

Tax & Accounting

Employee Equity Incentive Plans in China: Preferential Tax Policies (Part 2)

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.

China Monthly Tax Brief: September 2026

10/09/2026

China's September 2026 tax brief include new VAT withholding obligations, a national tax penalty benchmark, export tax refund compliance guidance, and tax dispute reform proposals affecting foreign-invested enterprises.

Legal & Regulatory

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

10/13/2026

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.

Business Licensing Requirements in Hong Kong: A Sector-by-Sector Overview

10/07/2026

Learn which business licences are required in Hong Kong across key sectors, including financial services, restaurants, travel agencies, real estate, recruitment, healthcare, and import-export businesses. 

Setting Up an Open-Ended Fund Company (OFC) in Hong Kong

09/30/2026

Hong Kong's OFC regime has grown rapidly as fund managers seek a flexible, Hong Kong-domiciled investment vehicle. Explore OFC registration requirements, tax advantages, grant funding, and re-domiciliation options.

Representative Office vs Subsidiary in China: Which One Suits Your China Expansion Plan

09/29/2026

A representative office looks like the cautious way into China, and a subsidiary like the full commitment. Under the rules in force in 2026, that framing misrepresents the costs: here is how to make the choice on the variables that actually decide it.

Should You Register Your Software Copyright in China? A Strategic Overview for Businesses

09/16/2026

Software copyright is automatic in China, but formal registration is often required or advisable. We discuss when and why businesses should consider it.

Setting Up a Manufacturing WFOE in China: Site Selection, Environmental Approvals, and Licensing

09/15/2026

A practical roadmap for foreign manufacturers establishing a production entity in China, from choosing a site to securing the licences that allow you to switch the line on.

Industries

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.

Where to Invest in China: Priority Industries by Province

07/31/2026

China's provincial 15th Five-Year Plans reveal where the country's industrial priorities are heading over the next five year, revealing new opportunities for foreign investors.

HR & Payroll

Employee Equity Incentive Plans in China: Preferential Tax Policies (Part 2)

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. 

Hiring Someone on the Ground in China – Structuring Labour Contracts 

09/17/2026

Hiring employees in China requires careful consideration of labour contract structures, statutory requirements, and termination risks. This guide explains the key issues FIEs should consider. 

China Minimum Wage Standards 2026

09/07/2026

This article offers a guide to minimum wages in the Chinese Mainland and discuss how labor costs are affected by changes to the minimum wage levels. The data is current as of June 2026.

Technology

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

10/13/2026

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

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.

China Releases Draft Standard on AI Application Security Classification and Grading

07/28/2026

China's draft standard for classifying and grading AI application security risks was just released. Learn how companies should prepare.

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