Trade

The lifting of tariffs marks a potential turning point for British brands in China, but understanding local sentiment, policy shifts, and the role of soft power is more important than ever China’s decision to reduce or remove some retaliatory tariffs has encouraged a cautious optimism among British businesses. Yet while the trade climate appears to be improving, brands entering or re-entering the Chinese market are faced with the more complex …

Whether you want to regain control, stay in the market or make a clean break, here’s how to manage a breakdown with your Chinese distributor, and how to avoid it becoming a full-blown disaster If Part 1 of this series focused on what brands must do to prepare before signing with a Chinese distributor, Part 2 explores the more difficult scenario: what happens if that relationship breaks down? As Zarina …

The United States and China have agreed to reduce tariffs for three months, easing tensions in their ongoing trade war. In a surprising twist, the United States and China have decided to cool down their heated trade battle, agreeing to cut tariffs for the next three months. This move comes after months of back-and-forth in which both countries slapped hefty taxes on each other’s goods, causing worry about empty shop …

China’s economic reforms have opened new doors for foreign investors, but restrictions remain in key sectors. Understanding the 2024 Negative List and regulatory nuances is crucial for British businesses eyeing the world’s second-largest market. China’s economic allure, with a projected GDP growth of around 5% for 2025, continues to draw global investors, including British firms seeking to tap its vast consumer base and innovation-driven markets. However, the country’s foreign investment …

The eyes of the world are on Donald Trump as he begins his second term as President of the United States, including in China’s. The multifaceted and increasingly tense US-China relationship will be a challenge for Trump, and the next four years will undoubtedly shape the trajectory of both countries on the global stage. From evolving trade policies to technological decoupling, this article gives a brief overview of what we …

The government hopes that UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves’ visit to China will boost British growth by engaging with the world’s second-largest economy in a “pragmatic” way Reeves’ visit follows the dialogue opened last year between Prime Minister Keir Starmer and President Xi Jinping at the G20 Summit in November 2024, the first between the two countries’ leaders in six years. At that meeting, Starmer emphasised the importance of …

On 3 December 2024, China banned shipments to the US of several minerals and metals used in semiconductor manufacturing and military applications, citing national security concerns. The move, which prohibits the export to the US of products such as gallium, germanium, antimony, and superhard materials, strengthens China’s existing limits on critical mineral exports and represents a rapid retaliation to the US Commerce Department’s latest round of tech export controls announced on Monday, 4 December 2024. …

The latest edition of the CBBC China Trade Tracker shows that UK-China trade ties remained resilient in the face of economic and political headwinds in 2023 Although the year was challenging for both countries – China’s economy did not “rebound” as expected following the lifting of pandemic restrictions in late 2022, and the UK’s GDP grew by just 0.4% amidst lingering inflation and high interest rates – UK goods exports …

Despite challenges like the lengthy Covid-19 lockdown in Shanghai, UK exports to China proved resilient in the second quarter of 2022, with many UK regions reporting record export growth, according to CBBC’s China Trade Tracker. Here are the latest UK-China trade statistics Parts of the UK saw a strong recovery in trade with China in the second quarter of 2022 as its economy recovered from severe lockdowns earlier in the …

The UK’s policy towards China rightly sits at the forefront of our national debate for a variety of reasons. The China-Britain Business Council (CBBC) offers the following contribution both as a resource for our Members and the wider public and in the interest of stimulating discussion based on hard evidence and up-to-date information (this fact sheet updated 18 October 2022) Trade and Economic Ties  China is now the UK’s 4th …