In late October 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Busan, South Korea on the sidelines of the APEC summit. This was their first in-person encounter since Trump’s return to office that January and the first face-to-face meeting since 2019. Trump described the talks as “amazing”, rating them “12 out of 10” on his own scale. Xi likewise praised steady relations, saying the two countries should “stay on the right course” as partners and jointly shoulder major challenges. The relaxed tone, punctuated by firm handshakes and praise, capped a high-stakes summit expected to break the…

China’s top leadership has concluded a pivotal Communist Party plenary session in this October 2025, laying out the blueprint for the country’s next Five-Year Plan (2026–2030). At this Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee, the Party adopted the “Recommendations for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan” – a document that sets the guiding principles and objectives for China’s economic and social development over the coming half-decade. This plan’s timeframe is deemed “critical” for China’s long-term vision of becoming a modernized, mid-income economy by 2035. In other words, the 2026–2030 period serves as a key bridge toward China’s 2035 goal…

China’s market still promises immense opportunity, it is the world’s second-largest consumer economy and is reopening after the COVID peak with pent-up demand. Reports note that Chinese consumers are “hungry” to spend again, and officials say China is “ready to provide a larger Chinese market to the world,” emphasizing high-quality development and opening up. New policies, from stimulus cuts to an “AI Plus” consumption plan, aim to boost spending and shift growth toward tech-savvy and green sectors. At the same time, the landscape is more complex, regulated and competitive than in pre Covid time. China Market Overview 2025 China’s economy is refocusing…

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…