Other BriefingsChina’s GDP Grows 5% in Q1 2026 in Show of Resilience
China's economy delivered a strong start to 2026, with industrial output and export growth driving momentum despite headwinds from the global supply chain crisis.
Cost of Living in China 2026: A City-by-City Breakdown for Expats
This city‑by‑city guide analyzes expat living costs in China in 2026 using a Shanghai Index benchmark. It explains how inflation trends, exchange rates, and regional development policies shape real purchasing power across different cities and lifestyles.
China’s Strategy for Overseas Investment in the 15th Five-Year Plan
China's new Five-Year Plan signals a more cautious, technology-driven approach to overseas investment, with greater emphasis on protecting Chinese assets abroad.
China’s Revised Foreign Trade Law Is Now in Effect: What Businesses Need to Know
China’s Revised Foreign Trade Law introduces a more structured and security focused approach to trade governance. While signaling continued openness, the law raises compliance expectations across IP, data, and supply chains for foreign businesses.
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Spain-China Relations Deepen Amid Sánchez's Visit to Beijing
Economy & Trade Apr 18 -
China’s GDP Grows 5% in Q1 2026 in Show of Resilience
Economy & Trade Apr 17 -
China Manufacturing Tracker 2026
Industries Apr 17 -
Beyond Compliance: How to Approach Hong Kong’s 2026 Profits Tax Return
Tax & Accounting Apr 16 -
Are You Exposed Under China’s 2026 Personal Information Protection Campaigns?
Apr 15
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Economy & Trade
Spain-China Relations Deepen Amid Sánchez's Visit to Beijing
Apr 18Spain is deepening engagement with China despite structural imbalances, with Sánchez’s April 2026 visit institutionalizing bilateral dialogue and expanding cooperation in investment, agrifood, and industrial sectors, even as a large trade deficit persists.
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China’s GDP Grows 5% in Q1 2026 in Show of Resilience
Economy & Trade Apr 17China's economy delivered a strong start to 2026, with industrial output and export growth driving momentum despite headwinds from the global supply chain crisis.
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How China’s Foreign Investment Negative List Works – A Guide for Investors
Economy & Trade Apr 13Understanding which sectors are open, restricted, or entirely off-limits to foreign investors in China requires consulting several different lists depending on where and how you plan to invest.
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Cost of Living in China 2026: A City-by-City Breakdown for Expats
Economy & Trade Apr 10This city‑by‑city guide analyzes expat living costs in China in 2026 using a Shanghai Index benchmark. It explains how inflation trends, exchange rates, and regional development policies shape real purchasing power across different cities and lifestyles.
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How Hormuz Disruptions Affect China’s Energy Security and Industry
Economy & Trade Apr 09Hormuz disruptions are reshaping China’s energy security outlook, with risks emerging through higher costs rather than supply shortages. While diversified imports and strong reserves provide resilience, pressure is building on industrial margins, transport costs, and supply chain stability.
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China Industries to Watch in 2025 Tapping into Growth Opportunities
Published: February 2025
China’s policy-driven initiatives will shape its industrial trajectory in 2025, driving growth thr... -
An Introduction to Doing Business in China 2026
Published: December 2025China remains a vital market for global companies in 2026, offering scale, integrated supply chains,...
Tax & Accounting
China Manufacturing Tracker 2026
Apr 17Our tracker provides continuous updates on key economic and growth indicators in China’s manufacturing industry. The data for March 2026 has now been updated.
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Beyond Compliance: How to Approach Hong Kong’s 2026 Profits Tax Return
Tax & Accounting Apr 16The IRD issued 270,000 Profits Tax Returns April 1, 2026, marking a landmark shift to mandatory digital filing. This guide covers who must e-file, key deadlines, iXBRL requirements, and practical steps to ensure compliance.
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Hong Kong Strengthens AEOI Framework with 2026 Amendment Bill
Tax & Accounting Apr 08Hong Kong has gazetted the Inland Revenue (Amendment) (Automatic Exchange of Information) Bill 2026 to enhance its AEOI framework. The proposed changes further align the city with global tax transparency standards under the OECD’s Common Reporting Standard.
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China Monthly Tax Brief: March 2026
Tax & Accounting Apr 03March 2026 saw intensive regulatory activity across China’s tax and customs regime, with new national and local policies reshaping incentive access and compliance expectations. FIEs should closely assess both emerging risks and streamlined opportunities arising from these reforms.
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A Guide to Global Minimum Tax in Hong Kong – Compliance Requirements for MNEs (Part II)
Tax & Accounting Apr 03In-scope MNEs must designate filing entities, align GloBE calculations with local requirements, and secure Pillar Two Portal access ahead of the first deadlines.
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Tax Health and Dispute Strategies for Foreign Firms in China
Published: August 2025Foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs) operating in China must treat tax health as a competitive advant... -
Guide to Corporate Taxation and Compliance in China 2025
Published: December 2024Guide to Corporate Taxation and Compliance in China 2025 offers a comprehensive overview of the majo...
Legal & Regulatory
Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprises in China: The Complete 2026 Setup Guide
Apr 07A step-by-step overview of the procedures, documents, and requirements for establishing a wholly foreign-owned enterprise in China in 2026.
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China Customs Compliance Alert: GAC’s New Credit Management Rules Effective April 1
Legal & Regulatory Apr 02China’s Customs has implemented new enterprise credit management rules effective April 1, 2026, replacing the 2021 regime. The reforms affect all importers and exporters, with material implications for compliance strategy, risk exposure, and access to customs facilitation benefits.
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Entering Hong Kong: Operational Roadmap for Chinese Mainland Enterprises
Legal & Regulatory Mar 27Hong Kong continues to play a critical role for Chinese Mainland enterprises pursuing internationalization and cross‑border growth. This article provides a structured overview of the operational steps, regulatory considerations, and strategic advantages of establishing a presence in Hong Kong.
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GAC New Overseas Food Manufacturer Registration Rules Effective June 1: A Guide for Exporters
Legal & Regulatory Mar 26China has released the detailed implementation rules for Decree No. 280, fundamentally reshaping the overseas food manufacturer registration system. Overseas food exporters face new compliance obligations affecting renewals, declaration filings, and registration pathways from June 1, 2026.
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How Foreign Investors Can Set Up a Company in China Entirely Online
Legal & Regulatory Mar 25Shanghai has launched China’s first fully online foreign‑invested enterprise registration using cross‑border digital identity authentication, marking a major step in reducing administrative barriers for overseas investors.
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Data Compliance in China: A Roadmap for Foreign Investors
Published: October 2025In China’s fast-evolving digital landscape, data compliance has become a strategic imperative – ... -
Tax Health and Dispute Strategies for Foreign Firms in China
Published: August 2025Foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs) operating in China must treat tax health as a competitive advant...
Industries
China Manufacturing Tracker 2026
Apr 17Our tracker provides continuous updates on key economic and growth indicators in China’s manufacturing industry. The data for March 2026 has now been updated.
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China's Agentic AI Boom: What the OpenClaw Surge Reveals
Industries Apr 14China’s rapid uptake of OpenClaw highlights the country’s transition from experimental generative AI toward agentic, task‑executing systems. The shift is reshaping China’s AI value chain, with implications for cloud services, enterprise automation, and foreign market entry strategies.
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China’s Brain-Computer Interface Industry – Tapping into the Future of Human-Machine Integration
Industries Mar 19China is investing heavily in brain-computer interface technology, opening up vast new frontiers in healthcare, rehabilitation, and entertainment.
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EU CBAM 2026: What It Means for China‑Based Manufacturing
Industries Mar 12As the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism enters its definitive phase, China-based heavy industry faces a permanently altered cost landscape, one where carbon intensity is now a priced factor of competitiveness, not an externality.
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China Issues New Production Licensing Rules for Infant Formula Liquid Milk
Industries Mar 02China has released new detailed rules governing production licensing for infant formula liquid milk, tightening regulatory oversight in the special foods sector.
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Data Compliance in China: A Roadmap for Foreign Investors
Published: October 2025In China’s fast-evolving digital landscape, data compliance has become a strategic imperative – ... -
Investing in China's Greater Bay Area: Tapping into Long-Term Opportunities
Published: April 2023Investing in China's Greater Bay Area: Tapping into Long-Term Opportunities is designed to introduce...
HR & Payroll
China Minimum Wage Standards 2026
Apr 15This 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 January 22, 2026.
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Cost of Living in China 2026: A City-by-City Breakdown for Expats
HR & Payroll Apr 10This city‑by‑city guide analyzes expat living costs in China in 2026 using a Shanghai Index benchmark. It explains how inflation trends, exchange rates, and regional development policies shape real purchasing power across different cities and lifestyles.
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Labor Compliance in China 2026: Enforcement Trends and Documentation Risks
HR & Payroll Apr 08China’s labor compliance landscape in 2026 is defined by tighter judicial interpretation rather than new laws. Employers must align HR, payroll, and documentation practices with evolving court standards to manage dispute risk effectively.
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Hong Kong Employer’s Return 2026 Opens: Are You Ready?
HR & Payroll Apr 01Hong Kong’s Employer’s Return filing season begins April 1 with the issuance of Form BIR56A by the IRD. Employers must prepare accurate staff remuneration disclosures and submit them on time to avoid penalties.
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Is WFOE Still the Right Corporate Structure for China in 2026?
HR & Payroll Mar 30A wholly foreign‑owned enterprise (WFOE) remains the preferred entry structure for many foreign investors in China in 2026, provided the target sector permits full foreign ownership and the business requires direct operational control.
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Labor Trends and Risk Management in China 2026
Published: February 2026In a year where China’s labor landscape is defined by slower expansion, tighter compliance expecta... -
Tax Health and Dispute Strategies for Foreign Firms in China
Published: August 2025Foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs) operating in China must treat tax health as a competitive advant...
Technology
Are You Exposed Under China’s 2026 Personal Information Protection Campaigns?
Apr 15China’s 2026 enforcement actions signal a decisive move toward practical, sector‑specific execution of the PIPL. Foreign businesses must now demonstrate day‑to‑day compliance across systems, vendors, and internal processes.
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EU-China Relations After the 2024 European Elections: A Timeline
Technology Feb 27Timeline tracking key developments affecting EU-China relations, including trade and business engagement, under the new European Parliament.
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China’s MIIT Introduces New Technology Contract Registration Requirements for 2026
Technology Feb 25China has released updated rules governing the recognition and registration of technology contracts. The new requirements, effective March 1, 2026, are a crucial step for companies to access tech-related tax incentives.
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China’s New Vehicle Data Export Guidelines: How Automakers Should Prepare
Technology Feb 10China has released the 2026 Guidelines for the Security of Cross Border Transfer of Vehicle Data, offering industry-specific clarity on data export compliance requirements.
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China PIPL: Key Compliance Signals from CAC’s January 2026 Q&A
Technology Jan 23China’s data protection regime is entering a more operational phase, with regulators placing greater emphasis on definitions, documentation, and accountability. The CAC’s January 2026 Q&A highlights how FIEs should translate legal requirements into practical compliance measures.
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Data Compliance in China: A Roadmap for Foreign Investors
Published: October 2025In China’s fast-evolving digital landscape, data compliance has become a strategic imperative – ... -
PIPL 2024: Cross-Border Data Transfer in China Handbook
Published: April 2024China’s PIPL and cross-border data transfer (CBDT) frameworks require that companies operating in ...
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Dezan Shira & Associates is a pan-Asia, multi-disciplinary professional services firm, providing market entry, legal, accounting, tax, HR, technology and operational advisory to international investors.
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Asia Briefing publishes articles, magazines, and guides on doing business in Asia. Dezan Shira & Associates has produced the publication since 1999.
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