Trademark Squatting Without Substantial Infringement May Violate Anti-Unfair Competition Law
Trademark squatting is a practice rife in China for all the wrong reasons. As China operates a first-to-file, rather than a first-to-use, system, companies are more susceptible to having their trademarks misappropriated. The journey from application to full registration and protection can take up to a year and a half – a loophole often exploited […]
China Introduces New Measures on Security Assessment for Cross-Border Data Transfers
The Cyberspace Administration of China (“CAC”) promulgated the Measures on Security Assessment of Cross-Border Data Transfer (“Measures”) on 7 July 2022, which delineate the security assessment procedures required for cross-border data transfers. The Measures provide clarification on the overall requirement to conduct a security assessment before exporting data out of China as set out in […]
Going Green: Environmental Compliance For Companies Operating in China
Although considered a latecomer to global environmental governance by many, China has been catching up by leaps and bounds, whose staunch commitment to the cause is in full evidence. In his video address to the UN General Assembly in 2021, President Xi Jinping reaffirmed China’s determination in striving to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 […]
Noteworthy Changes in China’s New Stamp Duty Law
On 1 July 2022, the Stamp Duty Law passed by the Standing Committee of the 13th National People’s Congress at the 29th session on 10 June 2021, took effect, replacing the Interim Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Stamp Duty (“Interim Regulations”) promulgated by the State Council on 6 August 1988. On 29 […]
A Concise Guide to Working with Distributors in China
We delve into the dos and don’ts of choosing a distributor in China and the key things you should consider, from contracts to IP protection. You are ready to venture out for your company’s overseas expansion. Green and inexperienced when it comes to the Chinese market, you are however reluctant to jump in at the deep […]
Individual Income Tax Special Additional Deductions: Childcare Expenses for Under-three-year-old Infants and Toddlers
On 28 March 2022, the State Council published the Notice on the Establishment of Individual Income Tax (IIT) Special Additional Deduction for Under-three-year-old Infants and Toddlers’ Childcare. The new policy specifies that childcare expenses for children under three years old can be deducted from one’s IIT taxable income at RMB 1,000 per month per child […]
Guangzhou is Building A Wealth and Asset Management Center in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area
On 8 June 2022, Guangzhou officially launched the construction of a Cross-border Wealth Management and Asset Management Center in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area with a ceremonial event held in Guangzhou. The ceremony marks the start of a new journey for Guangzhou to fully build a Greater Bay Area wealth management and asset management […]
Input VAT Credit Refund Policies in China
On 21 March 2022, in order to support the development of micro and small enterprises, manufacturing and other industries, boost confidence of market players and stimulate the market development, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) and the State Taxation Administration (STA) released Announcement [2022] No. 14, which expands the scope of policies for monthly full refund […]
On Simplified Registration and Filing Matters for All Market Entities in China
On 27 July 2021, China released the new Administrative Regulation of the People’s Republic of China on the Registration of Market Entities (“Regulation”), which is the first unified administrative Regulation to regulate all types of market players. The Regulation was enacted on 1 March 2022. On the same day, China released the relevant implementation rules. […]
Digitalization Tools and Trends to Facilitate your Hong Kong Business
Despite the latest waves of the coronavirus pandemic and the tightened quarantine measures, Hong Kong’s economy showed signs of recovery in 2021, with an estimated annual GDP growth rate of 6.4%. The notably positive performance was attributed to the city’s robust export performance and improved private consumption. Although uncertainties remain as we enter the Chinese […]