The General Office of the State Council’s legislative work plan for 2018 indicates that several policies affecting foreign companies may be revised this year, including foreign investment restrictions, ecommerce, tax, and environmental regulations.

Thousands of companies have moved, shut down, or reduced capacity since China’s central government increased inspections in their implementation of the 2015 Environmental Protection Law. A variety of additional environmental regulations have been released since the law’s enactment and promise a sharp uptick in environmental inspections, which could have far-reaching conseq

Costs of complying with China’s environmental protection laws are rising as companies operating there face higher compliance costs, more frequent inspections, and a swath of new laws and regulations on emissions.

During the eighth Strategic & Economic Dialogue which concluded early this week in Beijing — the final round for the Obama administration, China said it would offer a revised Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) negative list next week in Washington, DC, according to statements made by Vice Premier Wang Yang and Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew.

The PRC National People’s Congress concluded this month with the release of China’s 13th Five-Year Plan (FYP) on National Economic and Social Development. Outlining economic policies and targets to drive industry development in China through 2020, the plan focuses on maintaining economic growth and social stability while continuing reform efforts.

The US-China climate change joint agreement received significant media coverage in the United States, with many outlets citing it as the main outcome of last month’s Obama-Xi summit.