Given the size and complexity of the Chinese ecommerce market, foreign companies often struggle to root out operations selling unlicensed or counterfeit versions of their products. The US-China Business Council (USCBC) consulted member companies to identify and create recommendations for the spate of new challenges to intellectual property (IP) protection in the ecommerce space, including:

Senior Chinese leaders have repeatedly insisted China is improving market access and the investment environment, improving the protection of intellectual property, and ensuring equal treatment of foreign and domestic companies in China. “China’s door of opening-up will not be closed and will only open even wider!” exclaimed President Xi Jinping at the 2018 Bo’ao Forum.

Trade talks between the US and China ended today in Beijing with each side apparently staking out positions the other side is unlikely to meet. An optimistic interpretation is that the two sides have laid out opening positions and set up a process for negotiations to resolve trade tensions. However, two documents are circulating that USCBC sources say accurately reflect positions presented by each side; if so, the gap to be overcome is wide.

The United States and China have both fired warning shots on the growing field of bilateral trade disputes, though the most significant battle is likely still weeks away. While both sides have announced proposed tariffs on $50 billion in imports in relation to the USTR’s investigation into China’s intellectual property and technology transfer policies, neither will be implemented immediately.

To assist companies as they plan for the year ahead, US-China Business Council staff  compiled short summaries of the recent laws and regulations in China and those expected to be acted on in 2018. The first of this series of summaries focuses on agriculture, healthcare and intellectual property rights. Sectors covered in upcoming editions will cover information technology, financial services, energy and environment and automotive industry issues.