Due to its export orientation, China joined the globally most important trade associations relatively early and consequently had to adapt to their standards. China World Trade Organisation (WTO) & World Customs Organization joining are the most important Trade Association, which goes further than trade agreements.
Read More
China has naturally the closest Trade Agreements with Hong Kong and Macau, but there are also extensive China Trade Agreements with a number of other countries all over the world, such as a China ASEAN Trade Agreement. Current trade agreements are usually about the implementation of (limited) free trade.
Read More
From a trade historical point of view, China’s economic significance is getting back to where it was for centuries. At the beginning of the 19th century, China Trade History shows that it was even more advanced than Western Europe. The economic reforms starting in the 1970s allowed the country to gain old strength.
Read More
Tariff barriers to trade are commonly used to tax imports to a country and sometimes also exports from a country. Value-added tax, consumption tax and general custom duty are the most important China tariff barriers. The main purposes of are to provide funding for the government and to protect the domestic industry.
Read More
Special Economic Zones China (SEZs) are places of concentrated economic growth. They are started to incentivize development in strategic industries. Particularly at the beginning, export oriented industries were in the focus of China SEZ. Learn about tax incentives, regulatory simplifications and policy of those zones.
Read More
It is hard to run a business today without hearing about sourcing methods and the advantages of sourcing from China, and Asia more broadly. Done well, it gives a company a real competitive advantage. Done badly, it produces the late shipments, quality failures, and disputes that fill this site’s other articles. The first step to […]
Read More
While deciding to look to China and other Asian countries for cheaper manufacturing, numerous benefits exist (including reduced price and faster production time); however, weaknesses exist as well: loss of direct control, increase in risks associated with international trade and the neglect of other aspects. Considerations beyond financial ones should be included in the final […]
Read More
China spends 2.1% of its GDP on Research and Development (R&D), which is in the range of Western countries usually investing 2% to 3%. China Research and Development (R&D) Absolute Spendings will be the highest in the world in a few years. The level of schooling for certain parts is at the very top internationally.
Read More
Non-Tariff Barriers to Trade are used to restrict the amount of imports. Annual quantity or value limits for certain goods are determined. China Import Quotas are limited to a few countries & products. A tariff-rate quota is similar since duties for goods increase after a certain amount. Tariffs and quotas are similar.
Read More
China protectionism is the set of rules, taxes, and policies China uses to shield its industries from foreign competition, and the same term now describes what other countries do to China in return. The global economy can be hard on individual countries. In a slowdown or recession, and sometimes in ordinary times, a country’s industries […]
Read MoreThe ISS newsletter
Practical manufacturing guidance for product brands. Factory selection, costs, quality and protecting your designs. Free, unsubscribe at any time.