Other BriefingsOptimizing Your China Manufacturing Operations: Setup, Acquisition, and Restructuring Pathways
The latest issue of China Briefing Magazine is now available as a complimentary download on the Asia Briefing Publication Store. Written for executives and decision-makers, this publication provides a clear, pragmatic framework for navigating China’s new manufacturing reality in 2026.
Is WFOE Still the Right Corporate Structure for China in 2026?
A 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.
China Manufacturing Tracker 2026
Our tracker provides continuous updates on key economic and growth indicators in China’s manufacturing industry. The data for March 2026 has now been updated.
Labor Compliance in China 2026: Enforcement Trends and Documentation Risks
China’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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How Foreign Investors Should Approach Hong Kong M&A Due Diligence in 2026
Legal & Regulatory May 19 -
Optimizing Your China Manufacturing Operations: Setup, Acquisition, and Restructuring Pathways
Legal & Regulatory May 19 -
China vs. Vietnam vs. India: Assessing Costs, Tax, and Market Access for Australian Companies
May 18 -
The Xi-Trump Summit: Progress Made on Agriculture Trade as Two Sides Lay Groundwork for Future Negotiations
Economy & Trade May 19 -
China Monthly Tax Brief: April 2026
Tax & Accounting May 18
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Economy & Trade
The Xi-Trump Summit: Progress Made on Agriculture Trade as Two Sides Lay Groundwork for Future Negotiations
May 18Few details have been released about the Beijing summit, with China's agreement to purchase American agricultural products and aircraft unconfirmed by Beijing, and the prospect of a trade truce extension remaining uncertain.
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US-China Relations in the Trump 2.0 Era: A Timeline
Economy & Trade May 15On March 23, 2026, the US Federal Communications Commission updated its Covered List to include foreign-made consumer routers, preventing new models from receiving FCC equipment authorization and thereby banning them from being imported or sold in the US.
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Trump in Beijing – What Can Businesses Expect from the Meetings?
Economy & Trade May 14With tariffs, rare earths, and commercial deals all on the table, here are the key questions businesses are asking amid the Trump-Xi summit – and what outcomes are most likely to matter for cross-border operations.
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China-Italy Double Tax Treaty 2026: Practical Tax Planning Guide for Italian Investors
Economy & Trade May 13The new China-Italy Double Tax Treaty has become applicable since January 1, 2026. Italian investors must verify shareholding, beneficial ownership, and documentation before the first payment to access the reduced withholding tax rates on dividends, interest, and royalties.
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China vs. Vietnam vs. India: Where Should Australian Firms Invest?
Economy & Trade May 12China, Vietnam, and India each present distinct advantages for Australian investors seeking manufacturing diversification or market expansion in Asia. This article compares their industrial capabilities, trade frameworks, and long-term investment positioning to help businesses identify the most suitable destination for growth and regional expansion.
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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 Monthly Tax Brief: April 2026
May 15China's tax and regulatory landscape saw a flurry of activity in April 2026. Foreign-invested enterprises operating in China should pay close attention to several of these changes, which carry direct compliance and commercial implications.
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China-Italy Double Tax Treaty 2026: Practical Tax Planning Guide for Italian Investors
Tax & Accounting May 13The new China-Italy Double Tax Treaty has become applicable since January 1, 2026. Italian investors must verify shareholding, beneficial ownership, and documentation before the first payment to access the reduced withholding tax rates on dividends, interest, and royalties.
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China CIT Filing 2026: Fix Salary Deduction Errors Before May 31
Tax & Accounting May 11Salary and employee welfare expenses are closely reviewed in China’s annual CIT filing. This practical guide helps employers identify and correct common salary deduction errors before the May 31 deadline.
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What Are the Main Compliance Calendars Foreign Businesses Must Track in China?
Tax & Accounting May 07China compliance calendar requires foreign businesses to manage continuous monthly, quarterly, and annual obligations in an increasingly digital and data-driven regulatory environment. Success depends on integrating compliance into core operations, ensuring accuracy across systems, and adapting to both national and local regulatory requirements.
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April-May Hong Kong Tax Compliance: A Practical Checklist for Businesses
Tax & Accounting Apr 29Many businesses struggle to manage April-May tax compliance calendars, especially with mandatory iXBRL and MNE e filing. This checklist breaks down what to file, when to file, and how to stay compliant without last minute stress.
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Optimizing Your China Manufacturing Operations: Setup, Acquisition, and Restructuring Pathways
Published: May 2026In a year where global supply chains are being reshaped by geopolitical pressures, cost consideratio... -
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...
Legal & Regulatory
How Foreign Investors Should Approach Hong Kong M&A Due Diligence in 2026
May 19Hong Kong M&A due diligence has evolved as targets increasingly operate as holding companies with offshore and the Chinese Mainland exposure. Foreign investors in 2026 must focus on control, risk allocation, and post closing enforceability rather than formal compliance alone.
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Optimizing Your China Manufacturing Operations: Setup, Acquisition, and Restructuring Pathways
Legal & Regulatory May 19The latest issue of China Briefing Magazine is now available as a complimentary download on the Asia Briefing Publication Store. Written for executives and decision-makers, this publication provides a clear, pragmatic framework for navigating China’s new manufacturing reality in 2026.
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How to Succeed in IP Litigation in China – Lessons from the Supreme Court’s Case Files
Legal & Regulatory May 05China's Supreme People's Court has published a set of typical IP cases, providing useful insight into how IP law is interpreted and how disputes are won and lost.
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Hong Kong Employment Compliance: What's New in 2026
Legal & Regulatory May 04Hong Kong’s 2026 employment reforms reshape employer obligations through the new 468 rule, annual minimum wage adjustments, expanded statutory holidays, MPF offset removal, and tighter labor‑related regulation. Companies must prepare for broader compliance demands.
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China Cybersecurity Label Explained: Why ‘Optional’ Doesn’t Mean Irrelevant
Legal & Regulatory Apr 30For foreign companies selling smart devices, routers, cameras, or any IoT product in China, the new voluntary cybersecurity label is not just a logo but signals whether your product meets China’s security baseline, and increasingly, whether it gets chosen at all.
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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’s Nuclear Fusion Sector: What the 15th FYP Means for Businesses and Investors
May 01China’s nuclear fusion sector is rapidly taking shape as an emerging industrial market, with increasing investment and activity across reactor supply chains, advanced materials, and engineering systems. While commercial power generation remains a long-term goal for the 2030s–2040s, near-term business opportunities are already developing in component manufacturing, testing infrastructure, and technology partnerships.
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China Manufacturing Tracker 2026
Industries 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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Optimizing Your China Manufacturing Operations: Setup, Acquisition, and Restructuring Pathways
Published: May 2026In a year where global supply chains are being reshaped by geopolitical pressures, cost consideratio... -
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 – ...
HR & Payroll
China Public Holiday Schedule 2026
May 12In 2026, workers will be entitled to a total of 13 statutory holidays. The Dragon Boat Festival runs from June 19 to 21, providing three consecutive days off when combined with weekend rest days.
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IR56B Common Errors: A Guide to Avoiding IRD Follow-Up in Hong Kong
HR & Payroll May 08Filing errors in IR56B can lead to IRD queries, fines, or audits. This guide covers the most frequent mistakes, how the IRD detects them, and simple steps to stay compliant.
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Hong Kong Employment Compliance: What's New in 2026
HR & Payroll May 04Hong Kong’s 2026 employment reforms reshape employer obligations through the new 468 rule, annual minimum wage adjustments, expanded statutory holidays, MPF offset removal, and tighter labor‑related regulation. Companies must prepare for broader compliance demands.
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Facing New Salary Benchmarks for Foreigner's Work Permits in China? Here’s How Employers Can Respond
HR & Payroll Apr 24China’s tightening enforcement of foreigner's work permit salary benchmarks is reshaping how employers hire and retain foreign talent. As salary thresholds increasingly determine eligibility, companies must rethink budgeting, permit strategies, and long‑term workforce planning.
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Hiring in Hong Kong: Compliance Tips for Foreign Companies
HR & Payroll Apr 21Hong Kong offers foreign companies access to a highly skilled, multilingual workforce and a business-friendly regulatory environment, making it a key gateway for regional expansion in Asia.
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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
China Cybersecurity Label Explained: Why ‘Optional’ Doesn’t Mean Irrelevant
Apr 30For foreign companies selling smart devices, routers, cameras, or any IoT product in China, the new voluntary cybersecurity label is not just a logo but signals whether your product meets China’s security baseline, and increasingly, whether it gets chosen at all.
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Do I Need a License to Operate Online in China? A Guide for Foreign Companies
Technology Apr 22Before launching a website, mobile app, or digital platform in China, foreign companies face one fundamental question: do they need a license? In most cases, the answer is yes—and often more than one.
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EU-China Relations After the 2024 European Elections: A Timeline
Technology Apr 20Timeline tracking key developments affecting EU-China relations, including trade and business engagement, under the new European Parliament.
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Are You Exposed Under China’s 2026 Personal Information Protection Campaigns?
Technology 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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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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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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