Features & Analyses

China's environment has taken a beating over the past decades when economic growth has been the government's priority. The government is now making a keen effort to tackle the problems, and is devoting resources to major projects.

Taiwan joined the WTO in 2002 and is currently scheduled to sign the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) in March 2003. Is Taiwan's regulatory environment ready to accommodate foreign bidders?

Trusts in China have made considerable progress over the past few years. China's trust industry saw several positive developments in 2002, but much remains to be done to create an investment field with widespread appeal.

Under new MOFTEC rules, foreign operators can now hold up to 75% ownership in international freight forwarding agency companies in China. The key question for such foreign operators is: how to best structure their operations so as to be in a position to take full advantage when wholly foreign-owned enterprises become available in less than three years' time?

China's automotive industry is seen as one of the big growth areas in the post-WTO era. We're pleased this month to have a comprehensive survey of the main issues in the trade agreements regulating foreign investment and the current state of investment in China's car industry.

China is likely to launch its first anti-subsidy investigations in 2003 as it moves aggressively to utilize the full armory of WTO trade remedies.

The recently amended PRC Trademark Law (Trademark Law), the PRC Trademark Law Implementing Regulations (the Implementing Regulations) and supplemental judicial interpretations issued by the government greatly assist and guide practitioners and brand owners to reap further benefits.

The new QFII regulations mark another step in opening the securities markets further to foreign participation. Many new laws have made it apparent that the CSRC is committed to the path of financial reform and development.

The PRC's new Environmental Impact Assessment Law (the Law) clarifies and strengthens environmental protection requirements applying to the establishment, expansion or change of business operations, and extends similar requirements to the drafting of government plans that might affect China's environment.