Law

In this policy update, Joe Cash explains how UK firms selling into the China market from Hong Kong or the Greater Bay Area can take additional steps to improve the extent to which their business with Mainland China is protected under PRC law Commercial dispute settlement in China is set to become (slightly) more ‘foreign company-friendly,’ following three important changes that China has made to its commercial arbitration framework. The …

The State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR)’s annual legislative plan plays a big role in shaping China’s business environment.  Joe Cash runs through this year’s key takeaways It’s that time of year again: China’s market regulator has released its legislative plan for 2021. The State Administration for Market Regulation’s (SAMR’s) activities impact pretty much every company trading in China, be they foreign or domestic. Its annual legislative plan plays a …

The Chinese banking system is famously complex. Here, Francesca Scortichini of Hawksford, explains the main types of bank accounts available to companies and the latest banking requirements in 2021 The banking system in China has experienced a profound transformation over the years. Most recently it has been the focus of a campaign aimed at modernising its traditionally closed system and preventing illegal practices. Its many peculiarities affect the daily operations …

Organisations operating in China need to be particularly vigilant in the area of business ethics to avoid infringing UK or international law. Here’s why vigilance and transparency are key to operating successfully in the world’s second-largest economy Much has been made of both the opportunity and complexity represented by the Chinese market. For an ambitious business looking to take its products or services global, the idea of expanding into the …

It is true that opportunities for businesses in China are great. But all too often foreign businesses repeat the same mistakes. Jean Yves Lavoie examines the most common 1. Misunderstanding Chinese consumers Chinese consumers are not the same as consumers in the UK or the West. Their tastes, styles, budgets and requirements are all different and therefore products and services that sell in the UK might not necessarily sell in …

China’s Export Control Law took effect on 1 December 2020, making it the first comprehensive and unified export control law in China. Here, Li Chengrong, Gao Xi and Lv Sixuan of Zhonglun Law Offices explain it in more detail The Export Control Law (ECL) not only draws attention to the widely-defined control list of exported items and the temporary control regime – which used to be stipulated by scattered regulations …

What does the new draft Personal Information Protection Law mean to international financial institutions asks Yang Xun of LLinks Law Offices China recently issued the draft Personal Information Protection Law (the “PI Law”), which, if adopted, will be the first comprehensive high-level legislation on personal information protections in China. It details the rules for collection, storage, processing, and disposal of personal information, clarifies a number of controversial issues such as security …

Businesses that sell goods into the UK will need a United Kingdom Conformity Assessment (UKCA) Mark from 1 January 2021 The United Kingdom formally left the European Union on January 31, 2020 and the year-long transition period that allowed continuity of rules and regulations ends on December 31, 2020. This includes the rules surrounding the conformity of marking and assessment of products. Although the UK and EU are attempting to …

China’s signing of the UN’s International Settlement Agreement will not only benefit international businesses, but might also lead to domestic legal reforms, write Peter Corne and Matthew Erie Last year, China signed the United Nations Convention on International Settlement Agreements Resulting from Mediation, known as the Singapore Mediation Convention. This was a momentous event in the development of the cross-border dispute resolution industry and provides China with an opportunity to develop a dispute …

Hasbro, Mattel and eOne Family brands reveal their experiences of licensing IP in China and explain how they effectively protected their IP rights to CBBC‘s Iris Hu On a stroll through Beijing’s buzzing Tai Koo Li mall, you don’t have to look for long to spot familiar cartoon characters on the T-shirts in window displays, or well-known paintings printed on to the latest covetable tote bag. Of course these cartoon …