News & Articles

Let’s revisit a discussion with reliability expert Andrew Amirnovin about Design for X (DfX) and 12 different objectives product developers can optimize for. A product that works is only the starting point. To succeed in production and in customers’ hands, it also needs to be designed with […]

AI can produce a polished China contract while leaving its most important and complicated terms blank. Governing law, forum, language, service, and enforcement decide whether a company can stop a Chinese factory, recover its tooling, or reach assets after the deal goes bad. The post Your AI-Drafted […]

You send a manufacturer your CAD files, drawings, specifications, and requirements and expect the next step to be fairly simple: they review everything, tell you what it will cost, and provide a lead time. Instead, they come back with a long list of questions. For buyers eager to get a project […]

Forensic Accountants and Damages Experts Can Shape the Outcomes of China Business Litigation. Choose wisely. The post Forensic Accountants in China Business Litigation: How True Numbers Can Tell the Wrong Story appeared first on Harris Sliwoski LLP.

A supplier may tell you that a product is CE compliant, provide a test report, or point to similar products they have manufactured before. But none of those things automatically proves that the exact product you are placing on the market meets every applicable requirement. For importers and brand […]

A China trademark registration and an NNN Agreement protect different assets against different parties. Most branded manufacturing projects need both, but each has its own deadline. The post China NNN Agreement or Trademark Registration? You Usually Need Both appeared first on Harris Sliwoski LLP.

AI Didn't Replace Lawyers. It Gave Us the 48-Page Contract. In 1972, two lawyers a few years out of school opened a storefront office in Van Nuys and called it the Legal Clinic of Jacoby and Meyers. Leonard Jacoby and Stephen Meyers were going after the large group of people who earned too much to […]

With U.S. tariffs continuing to affect many products imported from China, some buyers are looking again at China+1 manufacturing as a way to reduce their exposure. A supplier may suggest carrying out part of the manufacturing in Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, or another country. In some cases, this […]

An NNN Agreement protects sensitive information while you evaluate Chinese factories. After you select the manufacturer, a Manufacturing Agreement governs quality, delivery, tooling, IP, and remedies. Here is how the two contracts work together and when one agreement can do both jobs. The post Do I […]

A signed investment agreement with a Chinese investor does not guarantee the money will arrive. China’s new outbound investment rules make ODI approvals, foreign-exchange compliance, banking procedures, and funding risk central to the deal. The post China’s New Overseas Investment Rules: Can […]

Startups cannot protect every trademark, patent, design, and trade secret everywhere at once. The smarter approach is to identify what the business cannot afford to lose, focus on the countries that matter most, and build an international IP strategy around revenue, manufacturing, expansion plans, […]

A manufacturing contract cannot guarantee that every production order will go smoothly. However, it can make it much clearer what the supplier is expected to manufacture, which quality standard applies, where production may take place, when inspections can be performed, and what happens when […]

International deals become far more dangerous when the contracts, ownership records, customs filings, or tax documents say something different from what actually happened. These real-world cases show why the paperwork matters. The post The Documents Are the International Deal appeared first on […]

A buyer paid a Yiwu intermediary $147,000. Most of the goods never shipped. Here is why we told the buyer to skip the lawsuit and go to the police instead. The post China Supplier Fraud in Yiwu: Why We Recommended the Police, Not a Lawsuit appeared first on Harris Sliwoski LLP.

Why it makes sense to use an American lawyer who is fluent in Chinese to handle your China trademark filings. The post China Trademark Registration: Why U.S. Companies Need More Than a Filing Agent appeared first on Harris Sliwoski LLP.

Many buyers focus heavily on product specifications, supplier selection, inspections, and incoming quality. But there is another factor that can determine whether a factory can consistently make your product correctly: the equipment used on the production line. A process may look simple on paper, […]

Chinese manufacturers are competing aggressively for orders, and in some cases that means quoting prices that leave very little room for sustainable profit. For buyers, the obvious temptation is to take advantage of the lower price. But an unusually cheap quote can create problems later if the […]

Large brands are not immune to serious product failures. Mattel, Philips, Samsung, Fitbit, Peloton, and numerous hoverboard manufacturers all had products recalled after safety or reliability issues were brought to light. These companies had far more engineering, testing, and quality resources than […]

A machine in the factory doesn’t need to stop working completely before it starts causing problems. Worn tooling, loose components, blocked filters, inadequate lubrication, and other forms of equipment deterioration can gradually affect process stability and product quality. By the time the […]

A product can meet its specifications, pass its safety checks, and complete every stage of the NPI process, yet still frustrate customers once it reaches the market. That is because technical validation confirms whether a product performs as designed. It does not always reveal whether the product […]

Shenzhen has opened applications for the 2026 GBA IIT subsidy program. High-end foreign talent have until March 31 to apply for a rebate on the portion of IIT paid in excess of 15 percent of their taxable income.

On December 31, 2025, Trump signed a proclamation delaying the increase in tariffs on upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets, and vanities for another year.

China retains its position as Asia’s top manufacturing destination in 2026, supported by world-class infrastructure, innovation capability, and policy reforms. While challenges exist, China's scale and technological depth anchor its position.

China's sports medicine market is evolving into a key healthcare segment, supported by policy initiatives and demographic trends. Foreign investors have growing opportunities in devices, rehabilitation, and services.

The CAC now requires companies processing the personal information of minors in China to submit audit materials by January 31, 2026. Businesses must act quickly to comply with filing obligations.

The Asia Manufacturing Index 2026 reveals a more competitive regional landscape, with China leading and Malaysia rising to second place. Enhanced features provide deeper insights for strategic manufacturing and supply chain planning.

China’s data compliance regime is evolving rapidly, with trends pointing to tougher audits, coordinated enforcement, and refined cross-border rules. Foreign-invested enterprises must adopt proactive governance to stay competitive and compliant.

Understanding permanent establishment status is key to determining whether a non-resident company is liable to pay tax on income under China's network of double taxation agreements.

In this China Monthly Tax Brief for December 2025, we highlight key taxation developments relevant to businesses.

China’s ESG compliance framework moved from voluntary disclosure to enforceable obligations in 2025. Businesses face rising costs and governance requirements as carbon and reporting rules tighten.