Trade and Investment China

China has released its 2026 Import and Export Tariff Schedule, issued by the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council and effective 1 January 2026. The schedule sets the country’s baseline customs duty framework for the year.   The 2026 tariff schedule covers 8,972 tariff items; an increase of 12 items compared to the previous year and maintains 102 export tariff lines.   In addition, China will apply provisional import tariff rates on 935 tariff items, set below standard Most Favoured Nation (MFN) rates to support imports of key commodities and industrial inputs.   Overall, the schedule updates tariff classifications and duty rates across multiple HS chapters, defining China’s official customs duty structure for 2026.   Ministry of Finance, 2026 , Tariff Schedule, 2026 , China Briefing, 2026 , State Council, 2026 , Tariff, 2026 #ChinaTrade #TariffUpdate #CustomsTariffCommission #TradeCompliance #HSCode #MarketAccess #ChinaImports #ChinaExports

China’s Free Trade Zone (FTZ) Negative List is a policy instrument that defines the sectors, activities, or business operations in which foreign investment is restricted or prohibited within Pilot Free Trade Zones. Under this framework, any sector not explicitly listed is generally open to foreign investment , subject to standard registration and compliance requirements.   The FTZ Negative List is primarily based on the national Special Administrative Measures for Foreign Investment Access in Pilot Free Trade Zones , while allowing for localized regulations. Each Pilot Free Trade Zone may issue its own negative list, tailored to local policy goals and pilot reform initiatives, provided it remains within the unified national framework.   In recent years, the concept has also been extended to cross‑border data flows and is currently being piloted in selected FTZs. These data-related negative lists are integrated with China’s broader data governance regime, including ...

China has introduced changes to its regulatory framework governing the registration of overseas food manufacturers exporting to the Chinese market. The development is the implementation of General Administration of Custom (GAC) Decree No. 280, which entered into force on 1 June 2026, replacing GAC Decree No. 248, the regulation that had governed overseas food manufacturer registration since 2022.   To facilitate the transition, China issued GAC Announcement No. 219 (2025), which took effect on 15 December 2025 and provided transitional arrangements and implementation guidance for the shift from Decree No. 248 to Decree No. 280 .   Decree No. 280 updates registration procedures, clarifies documentation requirements, and introduces a more streamlined and risk-based approach to the registration of overseas food manufacturers.   Additional guidance was subsequently issued through GAC Announcement No. 27 (2026), which took effect on 1 June 2026 and outlines updated ...

China has expanded zero-tariff trade policy for African countries by granting duty-free access to an additional 20 African nations from 1 May 2026 to 30 April 2028. Under the measures, imports from these countries enjoy zero tariffs on 100% of tariff lines , covering 8,949 tariff items.   Under the provisions of the measure, only the in-quota tariff rates for products subject to Tariff Rate Quotas (TRQs) will be reduced to zero, while out-of-quota tariff rates will remain unchanged and continue to apply in accordance with existing regulations.   This latest measure builds on China’s earlier preferential market-access initiative, which came into effect on 1 December 2024 that granted zero-tariff treatment to 33 Least-Developed African countries.   The expansion brings the total number of African beneficiaries to 53 countries that maintain diplomatic relations with China. Eswatini remains the only African country excluded from the arrangement due to its diplomat...

Business registration in China involves multiple steps, including approvals, fees, and coordination with various government agencies. The process typically includes selecting an appropriate company structure, renting an office space, preparing required documents, securing necessary approvals or licenses, and registering with the relevant authorities. The process generally takes 8 to 12 weeks to be fully operational, but timelines and procedures may vary depending on the specific province, city and investment type.   Useful Tips Work with a local legal or business consultant experienced in China. Ensure all documents not in Chinese are notarized and legalized. Check if your sector has restrictions or requires extra licenses. Proposed registration timelines may be extended due to regulatory requirements. Maintain relations with local authorities to ease compliance and future renewals. Monitor updates to China’s Negative List and legal regulations. For e-commerce, consider setting up ...