As China’s role on the international stage grows, its trade practices have attracted increased scrutiny from the international community.
In recent years, a number of complaints have been made to the World Trade Organization (WTO) concerning the Government of China’s involvement in the marketplace and, in particular, the wide range of alleged subsidies — most of which are indirect — offered to…
Read the rest of “Spotlight on Chinese Subsidies” or post a comment >>
By Cliff Sosnow, Robert Kwauk and Elysia Van Zeyl
As China’s role on the international stage grows, its trade practices have attracted increased scrutiny from the international community.
In recent years, a number of complaints have been made to the World Trade Organization (WTO) concerning the Government of China’s involvement in the marketplace and, in particular, the wide range of alleged subsidies — most of which are indirect — offered to domestic producers and exporters by the Government of China. Recently, these complaints have crystallized into the establishment of a WTO panel at the request of the United States and Mexico to examine the existence and impact of subsidies that are alleged to have unfairly boosted Chinese exports and skewed Chinese buying decisions to favour Chinese-made products. Read the rest of “Spotlight on Chinese Subsidies” or post a comment
The recent series of high-profile labor events has thrown a spotlight on the protection of workers’ rights in China.
Several foreign multinationals, including FoxConn, McDonald’s and Yum! Brands Inc - which owns the KFC brand, had been investigated for providing poor working conditions, underpaying their part-time workers and engaging in other unfair labor practices.
By AJ Hu
The recent series of high-profile labor events has thrown a spotlight on the protection of workers’ rights in China.
Several foreign multinationals, including FoxConn, McDonald’s and Yum! Brands Inc - which owns the KFC brand, had been investigated for providing poor working conditions, underpaying their part-time workers and engaging in other unfair labor practices. The rescue of slave workers from the brick kilns and mines in Henan and Shanxi provinces had also made headlines in many local and international news media. These events and the recent enactment of the revised China labor law on June 29th, 2007 - after 18 months of heated debates, are reminding foreign investors to be mindful of their legal obligations as an employer in China.Obligations of Foreign Employers
China has its own unique labor system and regulations. Apart from the usual employment requirements, such as signing contracts with workers, meeting wage standards and issuing salary timely, employers in China are also obliged to: Read the rest of “A Practical Guide to Labor Law Compliance in China” or post a comment
China’s growing population of over 1.3 billion potential consumers, coupled with their rapidly growing disposable income, is becoming a huge marketplace for products protected by intellectual property laws (IP). The disposable income of Beijing urban residents reached 17,653 yuan per capita (over $2,200 USD) in 2005. China has also become one of the world’s main manufacturing bases for products protected by IP laws. Further, China’s GDP reached over $8 trillion (USD) in 2005, based on…
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