China Business Dinner Etiquette as Though it Matters Ten years ago, I’d often get asked about Chinese business dinner etiquette. Back then, “everyone” was going to China, and many were terrified about messing up. I would try to calm their nerves by explaining how etiquette is less important in China than it is in Korea
China Distributor Relationships Make Sense, Especially Now My law firm’s China lawyers have drafted more China product distribution agreements in the last three years than in the ten years prior. Foreign companies want to profit from China’s consumer and industrial markets, but they are wary of going into China (or remaining in China) in a
Xi Jinping’s U.S. Visit If you have been paying attention to the headlines, you know that China’s Xi Jinping and US President Joseph Biden are meeting in San Francisco this week. They last met in person a year ago at the G20 Summit in Indonesia. The US and China at national levels have continued to
China Distribution Relationships We have written recently about the trend in China business as companies move away from joint venture relationships toward distributor relationships. This is happening with Chinese manufacturers and their non-Chinese distributors in the distributor’s home market. This is also happening in China with Chinese distributors or representatives and the non-Chinese manufacturers and
China’s Current Business Climate: Questions Answered Because of our vantage point as an international law firm, we frequently get asked questions by boards of established companies, startup founders, regulators, and reporters. Below are some of the questions about China we have received lately. What is the threat level for foreign individuals and companies doing business
Harris Sliwoski attorneys Robert Kossick and Frederic Rocafort were recent guests on the 6 Days in Suez podcast, to discuss forced labor compliance, a topic of growing importance to importers in the United States and beyond. Bob and Fred shared their experiences advising clients on how to navigate the increasingly challenging waters that surround forced
Rethinking China Operations: Third-Party Hiring Agencies As foreign companies reduce their China operations to minimize risk, they often turn to third-party hiring agencies to staff projects without a local entity. But relying on these dispatch firms creates a major vulnerability: loss of valuable IP if specific protections aren’t in place. This post delves into how
China Distribution Contracts The Evolving Landscape of Doing Business in China Over the past few years, China’s changing political, economic, and regulatory landscapes have posed increased challenges for foreign businesses. From escalating trade tensions to regulatory clampdowns, businesses have been navigating a minefield of risks in the country. These uncertainties, compounded by the global shift
China’s Economic Downturn and the Implications for YOUR Business As economic uncertainty roils China, foreign companies operating in or with China face rising risks. From capital controls to supply chain disruptions to Chinese firms outright turning on their partners, businesses worldwide must navigate a more precarious China environment. This article examines the current economic situation
The Chinese Manufacturing Times Are a Changin’ For companies buying products from China, doing business used to be straightforward – you placed an order, they shipped the goods. Those days are gone. Chinese manufacturers are struggling, and buyers who understand the new landscape can negotiate deals that were unimaginable just a few years ago. Play
