The year 2025 has marked an inflection point in China’s drive to internationalise the renminbi (RMB), or yuan, with usage of the currency in global trade and finance rising sharply. China’s expanding economic influence – from Belt and Road infrastructure projects to strategic financing initiatives – has spurred more cross-border deals to be billed in RMB. For exporters worldwide, this acceleration of yuan internationalisation is not just a headline; it carries practical implications for how they price goods, manage currency risk, and settle trade payments. The Chinese government’s efforts to reduce reliance on the US dollar have made the RMB…

For global food exporters, importing food to China can unlock a massive market—but it requires navigating complex regulations, customs procedures, and logistics. This practical guide walks you through how to legally and efficiently import food into China, covering customs clearance, GACC registration, QC inspection, Chinese food labeling requirements, shelf-life rules, cross-border e-commerce options, and cold-chain logistics. Geared toward exporters, logistics professionals, compliance managers, and food brands, these step-by-step insights will help you chart a smooth path into China’s market while staying compliant. Navigating Chinese Import Regulations and Compliance China maintains strict food import regulations to ensure safety and compliance with national standards….

China’s booming livestreaming sector – an essential channel for e-commerce and brand marketing – is facing a regulatory overhaul. In June 2025, China’s top market and internet regulators unveiled a draft set of rules aimed at tightening oversight of live-streaming e-commerce. These proposed measures seek to curb abuses in the fast-growing industry while promoting a “healthy” online market environment. For foreign brands operating (or planning to operate) in China, this development is a serious wake-up call. Live commerce has been a golden opportunity for reaching Chinese consumers, but now authorities are signaling that only those who play by the new rules…

In recent years, local Chinese companies have surged on domestic e-commerce platforms, raising the bar for quality, marketing and pricing. Chinese marketplaces for foreign brands have expanded rapidly, with platforms like Tmall Global now hosting tens of thousands of international sellers. At the same time, new social-commerce channels (like Douyin’s imported goods store) mean foreign products can be sold directly through short-video apps. This boom in cross-border e-commerce opens huge opportunities, but also intensifies competition. Experts and insiders agree that success in China requires strategic localization, savvy digital marketing and leveraging the right platforms. Working with the right partner can help…

China’s consumer spending is showing clear signs of revival in the first half of 2025. After several years of pandemic disruptions and economic uncertainties, shoppers are gradually regaining confidence and opening their wallets again. From big-city malls to rural e-commerce deliveries, the rebound spans across demographics and regions – albeit unevenly. In this report, we examine China consumer trends 2025, analyzing how consumer spend has rebounded in Q1–Q2 2025, which sectors are leading the recovery, and how both domestic and international brands are adapting in the post-COVID marketplace. Post-COVID Rebound and Economic Tailwinds China’s economy overall is benefitting from a post-COVID consumption…

The Chinese cosmetics market has long been tightly regulated, with strict pre-approval and registration requirements for imported beauty and personal-care products. Under the Cosmetic Supervision and Administration Regulation (CSAR), foreign brands typically must work through a Chinese Responsible Agent to register or file each product with the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) before launching in China. Special-use cosmetics (sunscreens, hair dyes, whitening products, etc.) require a full registration and technical review, a process that can take many months. Even ordinary cosmetics require a product dossier, Chinese-language labeling, and safety testing by Chinese labs. In short, import/export licensing and NMPA approvals…

In the complex theatre of global commerce, a palpable shift is underway. After years of escalating tensions, retaliatory tariffs, and profound supply chain uncertainty, a thaw has emerged in the US–China trade relationship, bringing with it a notable, if tentative, reduction in duties. For the international exporters, brand executives, and trade analysts who have navigated the volatile currents of this economic conflict, the development represents more than just a headline—it is a strategic inflection point. In a global economic climate still healing from pandemic-era disruptions and grappling with inflationary pressures, the relaxation of punitive tariffs, however temporary, reopens commercial corridors…

Early after Donald Trump reelection for his second term, the U.S.–China trade tensions increased after the U.S. reignited the trade war with China: leading to new tariff hikes and export curbs pushed both sides into unprecedented territory, forcing a return to the negotiating table. In spring 2025, negotiators met in Geneva and reached an initial “Geneva consensus” to halt the spiral. This produced a fragile tariff truce, and a 90-day pause on some measures, but ambiguities soon emerged. Each side accused the other of backtracking – Beijing imposed fresh limits on exports of critical minerals, and Washington pressed ahead with tech…

A recent diplomatic development has reminded Europe’s trade community of a recurring issue in international cooperation: the mismatch between stated alliances and actual practice. On May 7, Reuters reported that the Danish government is seeking clarification from the United States over allegations that U.S. surveillance activities may have extended into Greenland, a Danish autonomous territory of growing commercial and strategic importance. While the details of the case remain largely unconfirmed and will likely be addressed quietly through official channels, the news is relevant to companies operating internationally, particularly those working in sectors such as logistics, energy, and digital infrastructure. When even…

China has unveiled an ambitious 2025 foreign investment plan aimed at opening key service sectors – notably telecommunications and healthcare – to greater foreign participation. In February 2025, the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) and National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) released the Action Plan for Stabilizing Foreign Investment (2025), which explicitly calls for “expanding pilot programs to open up the telecommunications and healthcare sectors”. These reforms are designed to attract more foreign direct investment (FDI) and modernize China’s service industries. The timing is strategic: China is pursuing these openings amid global economic headwinds, as officials seek to boost the domestic…