HKTDC RESEARCH

OMAN: Executive Regulations of Foreign Capital Investment Law Released

29 June 2020

Oman has unveiled executive regulations (ER) for the country’s Foreign Capital Investment Law introduced last year, which is intended to provide a better legal environment for attracting foreign investment.More

Topics: Middle East, Oman, foreign investment, investment licence

China Offers Zero Tariff to 97% of Taxable Goods from Bangladesh

26 June 2020

China announced it will offer zero tariff treatment to 97% of taxable goods originating from the People’s Republic of Bangladesh (Customs Tariff Commission Announcement No. 5 [2020]), saying that this is in line with its commitment to the least developed countries with whom it has established diplomatic ties. More

Topics: Mainland China, bangladesh, zero tariff

China Releases 2020 Negative Lists for Foreign Investment Access

26 June 2020

The National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Commerce jointly issued the Special Administrative Measures for Access of Foreign Investment (Negative List) (2020 Edition) and the Special Administrative Measures for Access of Foreign Investment in Pilot Free Trade Zones (Negative List) (2020 Edition) (Order Nos. 32 and 33) on 23 June 2020. The two negative lists will take effect on 23 July 2020 and supersede the previous lists.More

Topics: Mainland China, foreign investment, negative list

CAMBODIA: Online Business Registration System Set to Cut Approval Time to Eight Days

26 June 2020

The lead time to register an enterprise is to be cut from three months to just eight days following the recent launch of an online single-window service. More

Topics: ASEAN, Southeast Asia, business registration, single window service

Franchising Industry in Hong Kong

26 June 2020

Hong Kong’s franchising market has been developing steadily, with many well-known international franchise brands, including McDonald’s, KFC, 7-Eleven, Subway, Starbucks and Pizza Hut, having a presence. According to Hong Kong Franchise Association’s estimates, around 43% of franchises in Hong Kong are in the catering business, 20% in retailing and 37% in other services.More

Topics: Licensing, Hong Kong, business expansion, international franchising

More Tariff Increases Possible as U.S. Considers Revising WTO Commitments

24 June 2020

Recent comments by U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer that the United States will “seek a broader reset at the WTO” with respect to member countries’ tariff commitments suggest that more U.S. tariff increases, along with retaliatory measures by U.S. trading partners, could be on the horizon.More

Topics: North America, USA, trade dispute, world trade organisation

The Greater Bay Area: Navigating Polluted Seas

24 June 2020

Cleanship was founded in 2012 as a spin-off from Malin Group, the long-established UK-based marine industry company. It has become one of the world’s leading marine environmental protection businesses. In 2019, the firm – which is based in Glasgow, Scotland – opened an office in Hong Kong and is looking to expand into the Greater Bay area.More

Topics: Environmental Protection, Western Europe, Mainland China, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, maritime

Guangdong Further Simplifies Tax Deregistration Procedures

24 June 2020

The Guangdong Provincial Tax Service of the State Taxation Administration of recently issued a circular on further simplifying the tax deregistration procedures in a bid to improve the business environment.More

Topics: Mainland China, taxation, deregistration

MOROCCO: New Free Trade Zone under Construction to Combat Illegal Imports

24 June 2020

Morocco is building a free trade economic zone in the northern town of Fnideq, near the Spanish-administered enclave city of Ceuta, in a bid to reduce illegal imports.More

Topics: Africa, Morocco, free trade zone, customs warehouse

SINGAPORE: National E-Commerce Transactions Standard Now In Effect

24 June 2020

Standard national guidelines for e-commerce transactions in the country have now been introduced. More

Topics: ASEAN, Southeast Asia, e-commerce guidelines, online transactions

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