#Investment Law Firms in China

[shanghaiganuslawfirm]

Arbitration Law Firms In China– What To Consider Today

Actually, arbitration and shipping law are important parts of the overall legal system in China because this country is one of the leading trading economies in the world. Chinese arbitration law guarding firms and shipping specialized law firms assume a central role in global commerce, protection of interest and proper disposition of disputes within the international maritime trade. ​ China has undergone a massive reform in the arbitration sector, as major arbitration bodies gained international acceptance. The Arbitration Law Firms in China provide legal services in clauses as well as arbitration agreement, appearing for the parties and enforcement of domestic and international awards.

These firms are also capable of dealing with multiple and large and cross border commercial disputes that cut across the different fields such as trade and investment, construction, and intellectual property. They practice law in China and understand all Chinese laws pertaining to arbitration and at the same time, they understand different international arbitration systems, thus, can competently handle cases involving multinational firms.

Equally significant as Shipping Law Firms in China are because the country handles significant world standard ports and operates a dynamic shipping line. These firms provide focused legal advice concerning issues regarding maritime contracts, ship registration, cargo loss and other issues related to IMMs. They also help extend to their client in negotiating and providing legal advice pertinent to contentious matters such as charter partied, Ship collusions as well as insurance policy claims.

The opportunity to work with a firm that specializes in Shipping Law Firms in China is therefore very useful for businesses dealing with international commerce. These firms combine their technological and manufacturing experience to create adaptive systems that eliminate pitfalls, meet legal requirements, and safeguard businesses’ profit margins. ​ Working with Arbitration Law Firms in China and Shipping Law Firms in China can become the crucial advantage for appearing successful on the international market, avoiding potential challenges, and preserving the continuity of successfully developing operations.

[robertreich]

The Silent Revolution in American Economics

I don't think you're expecting what I'm about to say, because I have never seen anything like this in fifty years in politics.

For decades I've been sounding an alarm about how our economy has become increasingly rigged for the rich. I've watched it get worse under both Republicans and Democrats, but what President Biden has done in his first term gives me hope I haven't felt in years. It’s a complete sea change.

Here are three key areas where Biden is fundamentally reshaping our economy to make it better for working people.

#1 Trade and industrial policy

Biden is breaking with decades of reliance on free-trade deals and free-market philosophies. He’s instead focusing on domestic policies designed to revive American manufacturing and fortify our own supply chains.

Take three of his signature pieces of legislation so far — the Inflation Reduction Act, the CHIPS Act, and his infrastructure package. This flood of government investment has brought about a new wave in American manufacturing.

Unlike Trump, who just levied tariffs on Chinese imports and used it as a campaign slogan, Biden is actually investing in America’s manufacturing capacity so we don’t have to rely on China in the first place.

He’s turning the tide against deals made by previous administrations, both Democratic and Republican, that helped Wall Street but ended up costing American jobs and lowering American wages.

#2 Monopoly power

Biden is the first president in living memory to take on big monopolies.

Giant firms have come to dominate almost every industry. Four beef packers now control over 80 percent of the market, domestic air travel is dominated by four airlines, and most Americans have no real choice of internet providers.

In a monopolized economy, corporate profits rise, consumers pay higher prices, and workers’ wages shrink.

But under the Biden, the Federal Trade Commission and the Antitrust Division of the Justice Department have become the most aggressive monopoly fighters in more than a half century. They’re going after Amazon and Google, Ticketmaster and Live Nation, JetBlue and Spirit, and a wide range of other giant corporations.  

#3 Labor

Biden is also the most pro-union president I’ve ever seen.

A big reason for the surge in workers organizing and striking for higher wages is the pro-labor course Biden is charting.

The Reagan years blew in a typhoon of union busting across America. Corporations routinely sunk unions and fired workers who attempted to form them. They offshored production or moved to so-called “right-to-work” states that enacted laws making it hard to form unions.

Even though Democratic presidents promised labor law reforms that would strengthen unions, they didn’t follow through. But under Joe Biden, organized labor has received a vital lifeboat. Unionizing has been protected and encouraged. Biden is even the first sitting president to walk a picket line.

Biden’s National Labor Relations Board is stemming the tide of unfair labor practices, requiring companies to bargain with their employees, speeding the period between union petitions and elections, and making it harder to fire workers for organizing.

Americans have every reason to be outraged at how decades of policies that prioritized corporations over people have thrown our economy off-keel.

But these three waves of change — a worker-centered trade and industrial policy, strong anti-monopoly enforcement, and moves to strengthen labor unions — are navigating towards a more equitable economy.

It’s a sea change that’s long overdue.

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

Supreme Court poised to appoint federal judges to run the US economy.

January 18, 2024

ROBERT B. HUBBELL

JAN 17, 2024

The Supreme Court heard oral argument on two cases that provide the Court with the opportunity to overturn the “Chevron deference doctrine.” Based on comments from the Justices, it seems likely that the justices will overturn judicial precedent that has been settled for forty years. If they do, their decision will reshape the balance of power between the three branches of government by appointing federal judges as regulators of the world’s largest economy, supplanting the expertise of federal agencies (a.k.a. the “administrative state”).

Although the Chevron doctrine seems like an arcane area of the law, it strikes at the heart of the US economy. If the Court were to invalidate the doctrine, it would do so in service of the conservative billionaires who have bought and paid for four of the justices on the Court. The losers would be the American people, who rely on the expertise of federal regulators to protect their water, food, working conditions, financial systems, public markets, transportation, product safety, health care services, and more.

The potential overruling of the Chevron doctrine is a proxy for a broader effort by the reactionary majority to pare the power of the executive branch and Congress while empowering the courts. Let’s take a moment to examine the context of that effort.

But I will not bury the lead (or the lede): The reactionary majority on the Court is out of control. In disregarding precedent that conflicts with the conservative legal agenda of its Federalist Society overlords, the Court is acting in a lawless manner. It is squandering hard-earned legitimacy. It is time to expand the Court—the only solution that requires a simple majority in two chambers of Congress and the signature of the president.

The “administrative state” sounds bad. Is it?

No. The administrative state is good. It refers to the collective body of federal employees, regulators, and experts who help maintain an orderly US economy. Conservatives use the term “administrative state” to denigrate federal regulation and expertise. They want corporations to operate free of all federal restraint—free to pollute, free to defraud, free to impose dangerous and unfair working conditions, free to release dangerous products into the marketplace, and free to engage in deceptive practices in public markets.

The US economy is the largest, most robust economy in the world because federal regulators impose standards for safety, honesty, transparency, and accountability. Not only is the US economy the largest in the world (as measured by nominal GDP), but its GDP per capita ($76,398) overshadows that of the second largest economy, China ($12,270). The US dollar is the reserve currency for the world and its markets are a haven for foreign investment and capital formation. See The Top 25 Economies in the World (investopedia.com)

US consumers, banks, investment firms, and foreign investors are attracted to the US economy because it is regulated. US corporations want all the benefits of regulations—until regulations get in the way of making more money. It is at that point that the “administrative state” is seen as “the enemy” by conservatives who value profit maximization above human health, safety, and solvency.

It is difficult to comprehend how big the US economy is. To paraphrase Douglas Adams’s quote about space, “It’s big. Really big. You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mindbogglingly big it is.” Suffice to say, the US economy is so big it cannot be regulated by several hundred federal judges with dockets filled with criminal cases and major business disputes.

Nor can Congress pass enough legislation to keep pace with ever changing technological and financial developments. Congress can’t pass a budget on time; the notion that it would be able to keep up with regulations necessary to regulate Bitcoin trading in public markets is risible.

What is the Chevron deference doctrine?

Managing the US economy requires hundreds of thousands of subject matter experts—a.k.a. “regulators”—who bring order, transparency, and honesty to the US economy. Those experts must make millions of judgments each year in creating, implementing and applying federal regulations.

And this is where the “Chevron deference doctrine” comes in. When federal experts and regulators interpret federal regulations in esoteric areas such as maintaining healthy fisheries, their decisions should be entitled to a certain amount of deference. And they have received such deference since 1984, when the US Supreme Court created a rule of judicial deference to decisions by federal regulators in the case of Chevron v. NRDC.

What happened at oral argument?

In a pair of cases, the US Supreme Court heard argument on Tuesday as to whether the Chevron deference doctrine should continue—or whether the Court should overturn the doctrine and effectively throw out 17,000 federal court decisions applying the doctrine. According to Court observers, including Mark Joseph Stern of Slate, the answer is “Yes, the Court is poised to appoint federal judges as regulators of the US economy.” See Mark Joseph Stern in Slate, The Supreme Court is seizing more power from Democratic presidents. (slate.com)

I recommend Stern’s article for a description of the grim atmosphere at the oral argument—kind of “pre-demise” wake for the Chevron deference doctrine. Stern does a superb job of explaining the effects of overruling Chevron:

Here’s the bottom line: Without Chevron deference, it’ll be open season on each and every regulation, with underinformed courts playing pretend scientist, economist, and policymaker all at once. Securities fraud, banking secrecy, mercury pollution, asylum applications, health care funding, plus all manner of civil rights laws: They are ultravulnerable to judicial attack in Chevron’s absence. That’s why the medical establishment has lined up in support of Chevron, explaining that its demise would mark a “tremendous disruption” for patients and providers; just rinse and repeat for every other area of law to see the convulsive disruptions on the horizon.

The Kochs and the Federalist Society have bought and paid for this sad outcome. The chaos that will follow will hurt consumers, travelers, investors, patients and—ultimately—American businesses, who will no longer be able to rely on federal regulators for guidance as to the meaning of federal regulations. Instead, businesses will get an answer to their questions after lengthy, expensive litigation before overworked and ill-prepared judges implement a political agenda.

Expand the Court. Disband the reactionary majority by relegating it to an irrelevant minority. If we win control of both chambers of Congress in 2024 and reelect Joe Biden, expanding the Court should be the first order of business.

[Robert B. Hubbell Newsletter]

[willy2bastiajaccio]

I'm from France and I support Donald Trump for his concrete actions and significant impact during his presidency, where he worked tirelessly for the benefit of America and its people. Firstly, his economic policies led to historic growth, creating millions of jobs and reducing unemployment to record lows, especially among African American and Hispanic communities. His tax reforms lowered taxes for workers and businesses, spurring investments and allowing families to retain more of their income.

In national security, Trump reinforced the borders by implementing measures to protect the country from illegal entries and trafficking, thereby contributing to the safety of citizens. The construction of new border wall segments discouraged illegal entries and reduced cross-border crime. Additionally, he supported law enforcement, allocating extra resources to ensure the security of American communities.

On the foreign policy front, Trump pursued a peace-through-strength approach, negotiating historic agreements such as the Abraham Accords, which paved the way for unprecedented normalization between Israel and several Arab countries, promoting stability in the Middle East. He also took a firm stance against international threats, imposing sanctions on Iran and negotiating fairer trade deals with China.

Donald Trump also championed Americans' rights in the face of a rising federal bureaucracy and over-regulation. He cut red tape and relaxed regulations to empower small businesses, granting greater freedom for entrepreneurship. His defense of conservative values, especially regarding religious freedom and the protection of life, resonated with many Americans who view him as a defender of the nation's foundational principles.

Finally, his approach to the COVID-19 pandemic was swift and decisive. Through Operation Warp Speed, he accelerated the development of vaccines at an unprecedented rate, saving countless lives and equipping America with the tools needed to effectively combat the pandemic.

As a leader, Trump has been a symbol of courage and conviction, and he remains committed to defending the interests of America and its citizens. For all these reasons, we stand with his vision for a strong, prosperous, and sovereign country.

[eretzyisrael]

Hamas didn’t invade Israel on Oct. 7 for its amusement. The barbaric sneak attack is a part of the pogrom intended to wipe out the Jewish state. It was a crime against humanity, and not just because of its savagery. We would all be worse off if Israel ceased to exist. The same cannot be said for Islamic terrorists.

Israel’s contributions to the modern world are momentous. When not dodging bullets, rockets, and homicide bombers, Israelis have since 1948 developed:

Copaxone and Rebif, drugs that treat multiple sclerosis, and Exelon, which treats mild to moderate dementia in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s patients.

The PillCam, “a minimally invasive ingestible camera in a capsule that allows visualization of the small bowel.”

The water desalination process.

The Sniffphone, “that can actually ‘sniff out’ diseases.”

And SpineAssist, “​​the first-ever spine robot” that has the “ability to provide real-time intraoperative navigation.”

The Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel, responsible for some of the inventions listed above, has also produced diabetes and flu vaccines, is using T-cells to treat damaged spines, and is a pioneer in industrial — and medical — uses nano materials. 

Other impactful Israeli products include drip irrigation, a revolutionary microprocessor called the 8088, the ​​NIR heart stent, voice-over-internet protocol, the ​​USB flash drive, the Waze navigation app, ReWalk, “a commercial bionic walking assistance system,” and “the first commercially viable firewall software.” 

Our own security has benefited from Israel’s labor and work ethic.

“Many Israeli innovations are present in upgrades to U.S. Air Force fighters and Army equipment,” says the international law firm Smith, Gambrell & Russell. One important advance in particular is the helmet-mounted display system for the new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

So we have a country of 9.23 million, mostly desert, that is only 75 years old, is “surrounded by enemies” and in a constant state of war, which has “no natural resources,” yet “produces more start-up companies on a per capita basis than large, peaceful, and stable nations and regions like Japan, China, India, Korea, Canada, and all of Europe.” It is the only nation outside of the U.S. that Warren Buffet invests in.

Have the Palestinians or Hamas, currently at war with Israel, done anything that compares to what the Israelis have achieved? More broadly, beyond the Allahista terrorist groups, what has Islam contributed to the modern world?

Not much.

Since 1901, Jews, who total 0.2% of the world’s population, have won 189 Nobel prizes for physics, medicine, chemistry and economics. Over that same period, Muslims, who make up nearly a quarter of the global population, have won four.

If it seems as Islamic groups, Hamas and Hezbollah prominent among them, are more interested in spreading nihilism, committing atrocities, and destroying civilization than making the world a better place, well, then there’s a good reason for it. That is exactly what the heroes of an increasingly large number foolish Westerners are aiming for.

Meanwhile, Israelis see themselves “as having a role in the world to repair the world,” says Chemi Peres, managing partner and co-founder of the venture capital firm Pitango, chairman of the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation, and son of the late Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres.

“We call it tikkun olam, and here at the Peres Center we have a mission statement, which is to introduce innovation and new ideas and new technologies, not only for ourselves but to solve the problems of the world.”

Islam is part of that world, but too many of its adherents live to do just the opposite. 

— Written by the I&I Editorial Board

[rauthschild]

Communist History Of V. P. Kamala Harris

 This is a really revealing history of of this nation's Vice President and presidential candidate. It is a long article but is necessary because it is so very important for you to know. This editorial is by Major General Higginbotham U.S. Marines (Ret)

This timely editorial that exposes the hidden background of Kamala Harris is from the Combat Veterans for Congress Political Action Committee. It is posted here with permission of the author. CVFC PAC supports the election of US military combat veterans to the US Senate and House of Representatives.

The editorial begins:

Kamala Harris' father was an avowed Marxist professor in the Economics Department at Stanford University in Palo Alto, CA. Both of Harris' parents were active in the Berkeley based Afro-American Association; Fidel Castro and Che Guevara were the heroes of the Afro-American Association. The group's leader, Donald Warden (aka Khalid al-Mansour), mentored two young Afro-American Association members, Huey Newton and Bobby Seale; they created the Maoist inspired Black Panther Party which gained strong support from Communist China; the Black Panther Party served as the model for creation of the Black Lives Matter Marxist organization Khalid al-Mansour subsequently went on to arrange financing and facilitated for Barack Hussein Obama to be accepted as a student to matriculate at Harvard Law School.

Following her graduation from college, Harris returned to California and subsequently became the mistress of the 60-year-old married Speaker of the California Assembly, Willie Brown, Jr. Brown's political campaigns were supported and funded by Dr. Carlton Goodlett, the owner of The Sun Reporter and several other pro-Communist newspapers. Brown was elected as Mayor of San Francisco, and strongly endorsed Harris' Marxist political philosophy; he guided Harris' political rise in California politics, leading to her election as California's Attorney General. Willie Brown, Jr. is a well-known long-time Communist sympathizer.

Willie Brown, Jr. was initially elected to public office with substantial help of the Communist Party USA. Today, Willie Brown is widely regarded as one of the Chinese Communist Party's best friends in the San Francisco Bay Area. While serving as San Francisco District Attorney, Kamala Harris mentored a young San Francisco Radical Maoist activist, Lateefah Simon, who was a member of the STORM Revolutionary Movement; Simon currently chairs the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Board. Simon has always been close friends with the founder of Black Lives Matter Marxist Domestic Terrorists, Alicia Garza, as well as STORM member and avowed Communist, Van Jones. Harris has been openly and aggressively supporting Black Lives Matter Marxists; Kamala Harris is still closely associated with Maoist Lateefah Simon and Marxist Alicia Garza.

 Kamala Harris's sister Maya Harris was a student activist at Stanford University. She was a closely associated with Steve Phillips, one of the leading Marxist-Leninists on campus and a long-time affiliate with the League of Revolutionary Struggle, a pro-Chinese Communist group. Phillips came out of the Left, and in college he studied Marx, Mao, and Lenin, and maintained close associations with fellow Communists. Phillips married into the multi billion dollar Sandler family of the Golden West Savings and Loan Fortune. He funded many leftist political campaigns, and the voter registration drives in the Southern and South Western states in order to help his friend, Barack Hussein Obama, defeat Hillary Clinton.

Phillips has been a major financial sponsor for Kamala Harris's political campaigns for various California elective offices. Harris' husband, Doug Emhoff works for the law firm DLA Piper, which "boasts nearly 30 years of experience in Communist China with over 140 lawyers dedicated to its 'Communist China investment Services' branch. He was just appointed to Professor at Yale to school future lawyers in the fine points of Communism. When she was elected to the US Senate,Kamala Harris appointed a Pro-Communist Senate Chief of Staff, Karine Jean-Pierre. Jean-Pierre was active with the New York-based Haiti Support Network. The organization worked closely with the pro-Communist China/Communist North Korea Workers World Party and supported Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the far-left Communist former president of Haiti and the radical Lavalas movement.

Fortunately for Harris, but potentially disastrous for the Republic, elected office holders are not subject to the security clearance process. If the FBI did a Background Investigation on Kamala Harris, she never would have passed, because of her 40-year close ties with Marxists, Communists, Maoists, and Communist China. Harris would never have been approved for acceptance to any of the 5 Military Service Academies, been appointed to a U.S. Government Sub-Cabinet position, or would have been approved to fill a sensitive position for a high security defense contractor. Yet, since Joe Biden was elected, Harris could be a heartbeat away from being President. The U.S. constitutional Republic is being threatened by the People's Republic of Communist China (PPC) externally, and by their very active espionage operations within the United States. The People's Republic of Communist China (PPC), with 1.4 billion people, is governed by the 90 million member Chinese Communist Party (CCP), that has been working with Russia to destroy the U.S. Constitutional Republic for over 70 years.

 If the American voters read the background information (in Trevor Loudon's article) on Kamala Harris, they would never support her election as Vice President of the United States. Joe Biden is suffering from the early onset of dementia and will continue to decline in cerebral awareness; he will never be able to fill out a four-year term of office. Since Biden was elected, the Socialists, Marxists, and Communist who control Kamala Harris, are planning to enact provisions of the 25th Amendment, in order to remove Joe Biden from office, so Harris can become the first Communist President of the United States. Since Biden was elected, because Biden would not be up to it,

Kamala Harris would lead the effort to appoint very dangerous anti-American Leftist, Communist, Socialists, and Marxists to fill highly sensitive positions in the Washington Deep State Bureaucracy. She would fill all appointive positions in the US Intelligence Agencies, in the Department of Homeland Security, in the Department of Defense, in The Justice Department, the Department of State, the FBI, the CIA, most cabinet positions, the National Security Council, and in the White House Staff. American voters must alert their fellow Americans that Kamala Harris is a very serious National Security threat to the very survival of the US Constitutional Republic; she has been a fellow traveler of Marxists, Communists, Maoists, Socialists, Progressives, and Chinese Communists for over 35 years.

President Trump had much more background information on Kamala Harris than we presented here, and he was correct, when he accused Kamala Harris of being a Communist subverter.

Geoffrey B. Higginbotham Major General, USMC (Ret).

Ernest Rauthschild's Response

Further, Geoffrey B. Higginbotham is standing in front of the foreign corporate British Territorial United States and Vatican Municipal United States BANNER; and not our Autochthonous Preamble Posterity General Government Flag enacted by the General Congress Assembled July 14th, 1777.

None of the "presidents of the United States" in my lifetime have been elected either in accord with Art. 2, Section 1 or Amendment 12 of the United States Constitution. There is no Constitutional provision that allows the Winners of the partisan conventions, who somehow become a candidate the Electoral College Select from, to choose or pick the candidate for Vice' President.

Since Congress has never declared war during Higginbotham tenure and lifetime, his resume is merely that of a foreign corporate Indentured 13th and 14th Amendment White Negro Slave in a foreign corporate Mercenary uniform.

[mariacallous]

VSquare SPICY SCOOPS

BUDAPEST–BEIJING SECURITY PACT COVERTLY INCLUDES CHINESE SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY

Fresh details regarding Xi Jinping’s May visit to Budapest have begun to surface. As it was widely reported, a new security pact between Hungary and the People's Republic of China (PRC) allows for Chinese law enforcement officers to conduct patrols within Hungary—which is to say, within a European Union member state. Chinese dissidents living in the EU fear that the PRC may abuse this agreement: Chinese policemen “can even go to European countries to perform secret missions and arbitrarily arrest dissidents,” as I reported in a previous Goulash newsletter. However, there's an additional as yet undisclosed aspect of this security arrangement. According to reliable sources familiar with recent Chinese-Hungarian negotiations, a provision permits the PRC to deploy surveillance cameras equipped with advanced AI capabilities, such as facial recognition software, on Hungarian territory.  The Orbán government already maintains a significant surveillance infrastructure, including CCTV systems, and there are indications that, besides the Pegasus spyware, they may have acquired Israeli-developed facial recognition technology as well. Nevertheless, allowing the PRC to establish their own surveillance apparatus within Hungary raises distinct concerns. Even if purportedly intended to monitor Chinese investments, institutions, and personnel, the potential involvement of Chinese technology firms, some of which have ties to the People’s Liberation Army or Chinese intelligence and are subject to Western sanctions, could complicate Hungary's relations with its NATO allies. The Hungarian government, when approached for comment, redirected inquiries to the Hungarian police, who claimed that Chinese policemen won’t be authorized to investigate or take any kind of action on their own. My questions on surveillance cameras and AI technology remained unanswered.   

CHINA FURTHER SPLITS THE VISEGRÁD GROUP

One of the factors enabling Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's maneuvers is the deep-seated divisions among its official allies, particularly evident within the Visegrád Group, regarding China. While Slovakia largely aligns with Hungary’s amicable stance towards both China and Russia, Poland adopts a more nuanced position, vehemently opposing the Kremlin while maintaining a softer approach towards China, as previously discussed in this newsletter. Conversely, the Czech Republic takes a hawkish stance towards both China and Russia. During a recent off-the-record discussion with journalists in Prague, a senior Czech official specializing in foreign policy candidly expressed skepticism about the efficacy of the V4 platform. “At this moment, it’s not possible to have a V4 common stance on China. I thought we already learned our lesson with the pandemic and how our supply chains [too dependent on China] were disrupted,” the Czech official said, adding that “I don’t know what needs to happen” for countries to realize the dangers of relying too heavily on China. The Czech official said Xi Jinping’s recent diplomatic visits to Paris, Belgrade, and Budapest was proof China is using the "divide and conquer" tactic. The Czech official felt that it isn’t only Hungary and Slovakia that are neglecting national security risks associated with Beijing, noting that “France doesn’t want to discuss China in NATO,” underscoring a broader reluctance among European nations to confront the challenges posed by China's growing influence.  

CZECHS REMAIN STEADFAST IN SUPPORT OF TAIWAN, OTHERS MAY JOIN THEIR RANKS

In discussions with government officials and China experts both in Prague and Taipei, the Czech Republic and Lithuania emerged as the sole countries openly supportive of Taiwan. This is partly attributed to the currently limited presence of Chinese investments and trade in these nations, affording them the freedom to adopt a more assertive stance. Tomáš Kopečný, the Czech government’s envoy for the reconstruction of Ukraine, emphasized in a conversation with journalists in Prague that regardless of which parties are in power, the Czech Republic’s policy toward China and Taiwan is unlikely to waver. When queried about the stance of the Czech opposition, Kopečný replied, “You could not have heard much anti-Taiwanese stance. Courting [China] was done by the Social Democrats, but not by the [strongest opposition party] ANO party. I don’t see a major player in Czech politics having pro-Chinese policies. It’s not a major domestic political issue.” This suggests that even in the event of an Andrej Babis-led coalition, a shift in allegiance is improbable. In Taipei, both a Western security expert and a senior legislator from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) asserted that numerous Western countries covertly provide support to Taiwan to avoid antagonizing China. The DPP legislator hinted that the training of a Taiwanese air force officer at the NATO Defence College in Rome is “just the tip of the iceberg.” The legislator quickly added with a smile, “the media reported it already, so I can say that.” Delving deeper, the Western expert disclosed that since Russia's aggression in Ukraine, there has been increased communication between Taiwan and EU countries, particularly those closely monitoring Russia, including on military matters. “There is a lot going on behind the scenes,” the expert noted, with the caveat that certain specifics remain confidential. When asked which Western countries might follow the lead of the Czechs and Lithuanians in openly supporting Taiwan, the expert suggested that most Central and Eastern European nations might be open to such alliances.

MCCONNELL’S CRITICISM OF ORBÁN PRECEDED BY KEY AIDE’S VISIT

In a significant setback to the Orbán government’s lobbying efforts aimed at US Republicans, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell condemned Orbán's government for its close ties with China, Russia, and Iran during a recent Senate floor speech (watch it here or read it here). “Orban’s government has cultivated the PRC as its top trading partner outside the EU. It’s given Beijing sweeping law enforcement authorities to hunt dissidents on Hungarian soil. It was the first European country to join Beijing’s Belt-and-Road Initiative, which other European governments – like Prime Minister Meloni’s in Italy – have wisely decided to leave,” McConnell stated. This speech appeared to come out of the blue, as there had been no prior indications of McConnell’s interest in Hungary. However, in reality, McConnell’s key aide on national security, Robert Karem, made an official trip to Budapest last October and held multiple meetings, according to a source familiar with the visit. Before working for McConnell, Karem served as an advisor to former Vice President Dick Cheney and as Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs under the Trump administration. Multiple sources closely following US-Hungarian relations suggest that McConnell’s outspoken criticism of Orbán, despite the Hungarian Prime Minister’s recent visit to Donald Trump in Florida, is the clearest indication yet that Orbán may have crossed a red line by courting nearly all of the main adversaries of the US.  

RUSSIAN PRESENCE FOR PAKS TO EXCEED 1,000 IN HUNGARY BY 2025

Russia’s nuclear industry is not yet under EU sanctions, and as a result, Rosatom’s Hungarian nuclear power plant project, Paks II, is still moving forward. While construction of the plant faces numerous regulatory hurdles, significant Russian involvement is anticipated in the city of Paks. A source directly engaged in the project revealed that the current contingent of Rosatom personnel and other Russian "experts" working on Paks II is projected to double or even triple in the coming year. "Presently, approximately 400 Russians are engaged in the Paks project, with expectations for this figure to surpass 1,000 by 2025," the source disclosed. This disclosure is particularly noteworthy given the lack of precise public data on the exact number of Russians in Paks. Previous estimates, reportedly from the security apparatus of a certain Central European country, suggested a figure around 700 – a number that appears somewhat inflated to me. However, it is anticipated to escalate rapidly. Notably, the staunchly anti-immigration Orbán government recently granted exemptions for "migrant workers" involved in both the Russian Paks II and the Chinese Belt and Road projects, such as the Budapest-Belgrade railway reconstruction, allowing them to obtain 5-year residency permits more easily. Central European security experts I’ve asked view the anticipated influx of Russian – and Chinese – workers into Hungary as a security concern for the entire region. Specifically, there are fears that Russia might deploy numerous new undercover intelligence operatives to the Paks II project, who could subsequently traverse other Schengen zone countries with ease. These concerns are not unfounded, as Russia has a history of leveraging state-owned enterprises like Rosatom to cloak its intelligence activities, according to Péter Buda, a former senior Hungarian counterintelligence officer. We reached out for comment, but the Hungarian government has yet to respond to inquiries regarding this matter. (For further insights into the Orbán government's involvement in the Rosatom project, read "How Orbán saved Russia’s Hungarian nuclear power plant project" by my esteemed Direkt36 colleagues.)

[rjzimmerman]

U.S. solar companies, imperiled by price collapse, demand protection. (Washington Post)

Several of the largest American solar manufacturing companies are demanding aggressive action against cheap imports, arguing in a petition filed Wednesday with the Commerce Department that firms in four Asian countries are illegally flooding the U.S. market with Chinese-subsidized panels.

Though the panels are not produced in China, the petitioners allege many are made in factories linked to China-based companies that benefit from massive price supports.

The complaint comes amid a glut of solar panels on the global market that has driven prices down by 50 percent over the past year, with the International Energy Agency projecting prices will fall even further. Manufacturers are currently making two solar panels for every one that is getting installed, according to the IEA. The oversupply is imperiling a boom in U.S. manufacturing driven by President Biden’s signature climate bill, the Inflation Reduction Act.

“We are seeking to enforce the rules, remedy the injury to our domestic solar industry and signal that the U.S. will not be a dumping ground for foreign solar products,” said Tim Brightbill, an attorney for the American Alliance for Solar Manufacturing Trade Committee, the group of U.S. firms that filed the petition. The group includes such industry giants as Ohio-based First Solar and Qcells, which has used Inflation Reduction Act subsidies to invest in huge new manufacturing facilities in Georgia.

In an email to The Washington Post, Chinese Embassy spokesman Liu Pengyu said his country’s “leading edge in new energy is gained through strong performance and full-on market competition, not government subsidies.”

“China has been and will always be open to industrial cooperation,” the statement said. “We hope relevant countries will embrace fair competition and work with China to contribute to a world-class, market-oriented and law-based environment for trade and economic cooperation.”

But the petition is also renewing tensions in the American solar industry, as installers of panels and developers of large solar farms warn that placing restrictions on imports could hurt consumers and raise prices. If the petitioners succeed, companies that buy solar panels from businesses in any of the four nations cited could be subject to steep penalties, which federal trade officials could enforce retroactively.

The industry only recently emerged from a bruising battle over the enforcement of trade laws, after the administration found Chinese companies were illegally sidestepping them by producing panels in China but then finishing assembly in other countries to avoid tariffs.

[leam1983]

What I've always found awkward about this is that the whole concept of using Real Estate as an investment is a very Modern-Day Han Chinese idea, and it's rooted in parts of Chinese folklore that aren't inherently toxic. What is is that some unscrupulous investors realized that folklore and economics could undergo a weird shift in China's specific case - and the rest of the world's Real Estate scene more or less caught the bug.

I'll explain: in China, it's considered bad luck for a Real Estate promoter to sell a fully-furnished lot, or a lot that's so much as ready to decorate. It's commonplace for only "demo" flats to be fully finished and for the rest of a complex's units to be left as bare concrete and exposed wires - because the purchaser will want to finish it themselves. Folklore demands that you "finish off" your new house, essentially, so only your energies influence its final form.

Consequently, it isn't unusual for architectural firms in China to erect what effectively looks like gigantic chicken coops, as you're looking at the concrete bones of an unfinished apartment complex that's waiting to be wholly purchased. Immigrants move to Canada, they realize that our Real Estate market, pre-pandemic, was extremely favorable, and so they opt to try and do as close to this as possible, within the limits of Canada's own laws regarding new residential developments. What they can do amounts to buying entire towers and sitting on them as an investment.

That gets you something that's now common well outside of the Han Chinese diaspora, which is someone swiping entire projects off the map and nodding their heads no once the city's administration steps in, demanding lot access for a few Public Housing programs.

The responses are usually infuriating. "Nope, I'm holding onto these units for my family" is a common one, when a little digging makes it obvious that nobody who's close to the promoter has any intention of emigrating to Canada. The groups that started it can at least claim a focus on folklore or good luck or what have you, but the more recent ones are entirely and knowingly treating entire blocks like crypto wallets.

The message is pretty clear: "Fuck your housing crisis, I'm holding out for the whales that're going to give me six million a pop for these units in three to four years."

Under the new rules, homes that are not occupied for at least six months of the year are subject to a tax of one per cent of the property’s assessed value. The deadline to rent out empty dwellings was July 1.

Fazli said many of the people he has talked to are thinking of renting or selling their properties. He recently met with a woman who owns three empty properties in Vancouver — and says one of them is now listed for rent, another will be listed shortly and she is thinking of selling the third.

“This is a scenario of someone who is kind of in a panic now and needs to rent them out,” he said. […]

amazing

[jcmarchi]

EU competitiveness report: Developments in AI and Competition Law

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/eu-competitiveness-report-developments-in-ai-and-competition-law-2/

EU competitiveness report: Developments in AI and Competition Law

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Law sit at a critical intersection as regulators seek to identify the most appropriate long-term solution to a technology bound by the pace problem.

The European Union (EU) Competitiveness Report published back in September 20241 highlights considerations the EU bloc should look at in their forthcoming budget to ensure that excessive regulation does not impede an Artificial Intelligence-driven future.

What is the EU Competitiveness Report?

The EU Competitiveness Report was published by Mario Draghi on 9 September 20241 outlining how stagnant economic growth and excessive red tape could threaten innovation, Europe’s prosperity, and social welfare.

Draghi’s report recommends sectoral and horizontal policies to ensure the bloc is competitive in the future alongside the United States and China. To achieve this, an injection of €750-800 billion1 from a mixture of public and private investment is recommended (or 5 percent of the EU’s total Gross Domestic Product (GDP)), with €450 billion1 allocated to the energy transition. In addition to the required investment, the report has additionally recommended reforms in Competition Law to allow for mergers of European corporations, especially on the back of the EU’s decision to block the merger between Siemens and Alstom back in 2019.2

How the recommendations in the report will be actioned in the long run will not solely be determined from Draghi’s presentation to the informal European Council but equally tested when President-elect Donald Trump is sworn into office on the 20th January 2025. Additionally, the negotiations on the upcoming multi-annual financial framework (MFF) that will shape the EU budget for the period 2028 – 2034 will be an additional hurdle in determining the actionability of the report, with a first draft expected in 2025. The foundational negotiations and, ultimately, the budget size and expenditure will determine if the report has laid the foundations for a more ambitious EU.

Competition Law as a tool for promoting AI innovation in the USA

USA leads in AI with the National AI Initiative Act and AI Bill of Rights, ensuring secure and ethical development.

Technology innovation in Europe

With increasing global pressure to dominate the AI landscape whilst simultaneously working to improve understanding of AI ethics, there is a pressing need for increased investment along with Research and Development (R&D) to cope with the heightened computational demand AI is bringing: an area in which Europe is falling behind in.

Generally speaking, the EU’s industrial model is highly diversified when it comes to technology: it is more specialized in established technologies but weaker in both software and computer services. Taking R&D expenditure in Europe compared to the market leaders in software and internet, for example, EU firms represent only 7% compared to 71% for the US and 15% for China1. With technology, hardware, and equipment, again, the EU trails, accounting for only 12% of R&D expenditure compared to 40% in the US and 19% in China1. 

Despite Europe lagging behind in R&D, the bloc, on a positive note, has a stronghold in high-performance computing (HPC). 2018 saw the launch of the Euro-HPC joint undertaking, where the creation of large public infrastructure across six member states allowed for an increase in computing capacity1. Additionally, with plans to launch two exascale computers in the future, these new systems, alongside the AI Innovation package3, will open up HPC capacity to AI startups, an important step in helping companies scale their AI systems.

Among the innovation agenda outlined above, core legislation surrounding the EU’s digital model is an important pillar to ensure fairness and contestability within the digital sector. The Digital Markets Act4, for example, sets out obligations gatekeepers – large digital platforms providing core platform services such as search engines – must follow. As Frontier AI continues to develop, there is bound to be increased resistance between the EU and US companies as they more deeply embed Artificial Intelligence into their software with the aim of marketing it to as many consumers as possible.

What does the roadmap say about AI?

According to the Competitiveness report, only 11% of EU companies are adopting AI (compared to a target of 75% by 2030)1, and when it comes to foundation models developed since 2017, 73% of these are from the US and 15% are from China1.

A reason why Europe lacks competitiveness in this space is that it doesn’t have the availability of venture capital and lacks cloud hyperscalers as the US does, for example, through partnerships such as OpenAI and Microsoft. This is additionally exacerbated by the availability of venture capital funding. In 2023, for example, only $8 billion in venture capital was made in the EU compared to $68 billion in the USA and $15 billion in China1, respectively. Combining this with the fact that Mistral and Aleph Alpha – two companies building Generative AI models – require significant investment to become competitive against the EU players, they have no choice but to opt for funding overseas.

Back in March 2024, the EU’s AI Act5 was passed: regulation involving the categorisation of AI systems regardless of context pigeonholed into differing risk levels. The Act’s effectiveness of enforcement and impact, however, is unlikely to be seen until 2026, when the transition period and provisions for high-risk systems come into effect. With AI embedded cross-platform, managing competition across the smaller and larger players will be a delicate balancing act, and with AI showing no signs of slowing down, the future of AI and its associated regulation will bring a combination of excitement and controversy.  

Regulating artificial intelligence: The bigger picture

The article discusses the challenges of AI regulation, economic impact, and governance, with a focus on the UK’s evolving legal approach.

What does it mean for AI and associated Law in the future?

Addressing the challenges around the availability of R&D funding will be one of numerous steps to ensuring the EU bloc is competitive in the AI space. However, with competition from the USA and China only going to strengthen, it will not only be funding that is required but a look at competition law reform.

High inflation environments could give rise to tacit collusion – a form of collusive behaviour as a result of firms coordinating their actions without explicitly reaching an agreement – a gap not easily filled, especially when there are no current (and good) EU-level tools to deal with the practice.

Furthermore, consumer inertia resulting from brand loyalty, switching costs, and habit formation may result in undisciplined competition due to consumers preference for a more cost-effective and technologically streamlined option. A competition enforcer wants to ensure consumers are not exploited, but at the same time, similar to tackling the high inflation aspect, there is no specific tool for them to use.

While the EU’s AI Act5 is a commendable step in managing what is a continually difficult technology to contend with, Europe lagging behind holistically in AI development may result in EU companies having their market share lessened by their non-EU counterparts. Competition benefitting EU consumers on many occasions comes from trade resulting in regional and global markets, so if competition reform is on the table to boost enterprise in the bloc, minimising anticompetitiveness and harm from illegal subsidies to foreign firms must be looked at closely.

Bibliography

1Mario Draghi, The future of European Competitiveness Part B: in-depth analysis and  recommendations, The European Commission, 2024

2 Siemens/Alstom (Case IV/M.8677) Commission Decision 139/2004/EEC [2019] OJ C 300/07

3Joint Research Centre, Science for Policy brief, Harmonised Standards for the European AI Act, JRC 139430.

4Regulation (EU) 2022/1925 of the European Parliament and of the Council on contestable and fair markets in the digital sector [2022] OJ L265/1 (hereafter: DMA).

5European Commission. (2021). Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down harmonised rules on artificial intelligence (Artificial Intelligence Act) and amending certain Union legislative acts. COM/2021/206 final. Available at: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52021PC0206

Here at AI Accelerator Institute, we’re always looking to bring you more exciting events each year.

And 2035 is no different; why not take a look at what we have planned for you?

AI Accelerator Institute | Summit calendar

Be part of the AI revolution – join this unmissable community gathering at the only networking, learning, and development conference you need.

[shanghaiganuslawfirm]

Shipping Lawyers In China– Go To The Absolute Best

Given that china has been ranked among the giant traders of the world, its shipping industry plays a significant role in trading around the world. Given the port congestion and a vast network of shipping, legal factors in this operations area are complex.

A number of Shipping Lawyers in China are able to give invaluable technical assistance to clients involved in a number of jurisdictions and a variety of maritime laws. These legal practitioners work on a broad range of services; consultation in charter party contracts, cargo issues and claims, bills of lading claims as well as ship financing and construction act. They are valuable for shipowners, shipping companies, logistics firms and even multinationals in maritime trade.

Current Shipping Law Firms in China are adept with both the domestic maritime laws and the international which is essential for the shipping business. That way, cross-border disputes will be handled well and the clients of the firms will receive a comprehensive legal solution to their multijurisdictional problems. Also, the services involve compliance with IMO regulations; thus, guarding the client against fines from the organization.

An equally important service offering by Shipping Lawyers in China includes acting for clients in marine arbitration and litigation matters. Today, different lawyers dealing with shipping issues in China try to get the best result for their clients in the most efficient and quick manner by working with arbitration centers and courts.

This concept is effective for promoting effective conflict resolution hence reducing operational interferences which may inconvenience clients and result in significant losses to them.

The purpose of selecting the experienced Shipping Law Firms in China, whether located in Shanghai, Beijing, or Guangzhou is logical. Clients are provided with practical advice based on their extensive expertise in maritime law and impressive advocacy for their interests that empowers them and prevents them from bureaucracy when competing in the international market. Especially for those companies engaged in international trade, it is a wise choice to seek support from top Shipping Lawyers in China so as to ensure sound legal shields.

[ykgglobal]

Top 5 Benefits of Starting a Business in Japan: Insights on Company Formation

Japan is a global economic powerhouse known for its innovation, technological advancements, and robust business environment. If you're considering expanding your business, company formation in Japan offers numerous advantages that make it an attractive destination for entrepreneurs and corporations alike. Here are the top five benefits:

1. Access to a Stable Economy

Japan boasts the third-largest economy in the world, offering a reliable and stable environment for businesses. Its strong financial systems and steady GDP growth make it a safe haven for investment and company formation in Japan.

2. Highly Skilled Workforce

Japan is renowned for its skilled and educated workforce. Businesses benefit from a talent pool committed to precision, quality, and efficiency, which can enhance operations and foster innovation.

3. Strategic Location in Asia

Situated at the heart of Asia, Japan serves as a strategic gateway to other major markets like China, South Korea, and Southeast Asia. Setting up your company in Japan ensures seamless access to international trade and partnerships.

4. Government Support for Foreign Businesses

The Japanese government actively encourages foreign investment by offering incentives, subsidies, and simplified procedures for company formation in Japan. Initiatives such as free trade agreements and deregulation have further streamlined the process.

5. Strong Intellectual Property Protection

Japan has robust intellectual property laws that safeguard your innovations and creations. This is especially beneficial for tech-driven and creative industries looking to thrive in a secure environment.

By choosing YKG Global, a trusted consulting firm since 1981, you can ensure a seamless journey for your company formation in Japan, from compliance to business structuring. Contact us today to leverage these advantages and position your business for success in the Japanese market.

[industrynewsupdates]

Future of Flavors and Fragrances Market: Trends to Watch

The global flavors and fragrances market was valued at USD 30.61 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.4% from 2024 to 2030. This growth is primarily driven by increasing demand for processed food and personal care and cosmetic products on a global scale. As disposable income rises in emerging economies such as India and China, along with population growth, the demand for personal care and cosmetic items is expected to see a significant boost. Additionally, the fast-paced lifestyle prevalent in both developing and developed countries is likely to enhance the demand for processed foods and beverages, consequently driving up the need for various flavors.

Natural fragrances and flavors tend to be expensive due to their complex processing methods and limited availability. As a response, industry players have been developing cost-effective synthetic alternatives. These synthetic products offer benefits such as consistent supply, stable pricing, and lower production costs. In the past, there was a common practice where dealers engaged in multi-year contracts with one another. However, this practice has become less common in recent years.

Growing awareness about the adverse effects of allopathic medicines has sparked increased interest in the medicinal benefits and therapeutic effects of herbal products. This shift is likely to fuel demand for herbal products, dietary supplements, and herbal-based beauty aids derived from botanical extracts. Such extracts are increasingly used in anti-aging cosmetic formulations to mitigate the oxidative damage caused by bioflavonoids present in their composition.

Gather more insights about the market drivers, restrains and growth of the Flavors And Fragrances Market

Market Concentration & Characteristics

The flavors and fragrances industry is characterized by fragmentation, with a significant presence of large multinational companies. Smaller firms distinguish themselves by creating unique natural fragrances and flavors, making it challenging for competitors to replicate their products and gain entry into local markets. Manufacturers are currently facing profit margin pressures, exacerbated by the demands of retailers and processors, particularly concerning private label brands. Additionally, safety considerations and environmental protection regulations are becoming increasingly important in many developed nations.

The type of flavor produced by a company is heavily influenced by regional consumer preferences. Flavor developers must consider several factors, including the intended application, raw materials used, taste profiles, and the product form. Flavors are now finding expanded applications in a variety of sectors, including beverages, dairy products, confectioneries, snacks, ready-to-eat meals, toothpaste, dietary supplements, and more.

To improve market accessibility, manufacturers have been integrating their distribution channels and production processes. Key players in the industry often adopt vertical integration strategies to formulate products that cater to multiple applications. Compliance with labeling and manufacturing laws, as well as guidelines and regulations from authorities such as the European Food Safety Authority, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Health Canada, and the World Health Organization is essential for manufacturers.

In January 2023, Symrise AG made a strategic investment in Ignite Venture Studio, a business-to-consumer startup in the personal care sector. This investment aims to drive innovation in fragrance and cosmetic ingredients, reflecting the industry’s focus on creative development.

However, operating costs and investment requirements are increasing each year, making it challenging to secure approvals for new projects in developed markets. Additionally, creativity and innovation remain critical for maintaining a competitive edge in the industry. To achieve this, companies are continually searching for new ingredients, which can lead to higher processing costs. These challenges are expected to persist for industry players as they navigate an evolving market landscape.

Order a free sample PDF of the Flavors And Fragrances Market Intelligence Study, published by Grand View Research.

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

Gold’s positive outlook boosts interest as record prices push up M&A costs in Brazil

Unlike critical minerals, the backdrop for gold is not energy transition but geopolitical instability

Mergers and acquisitions and investments in Brazil’s mining sector are expected to remain strong, according to experts and industry executives. However, in the case of gold, the metal’s record-high prices, driven by geopolitical issues, are currently complicating negotiations.

“We are in an extremely productive phase in terms of new exploration, especially for minerals related to the energy transition. This includes lithium, nickel, vanadium, and rare earths. There is significant interest in Brazil for these minerals,” said Julio Nery, director of sustainability at the Brazilian Mining Institute (IBRAM), adding that the interest is also seen in other countries. Gold is another mineral attracting attention in Brazil. “There are many ongoing projects,” he noted.

Fernanda Tanure, a partner in environmental and climate law at BMA Advogados, reinforced this view. “We are seeing many opportunities emerging. Our firm is increasingly sought after for acquisitions in this sector, particularly in gold and strategic minerals,” she said.

Unlike critical minerals, the backdrop for gold is not energy transition but geopolitical instability. Gold is traditionally a haven for investors in times of uncertainty. With two wars currently underway��one in Ukraine and another in the Middle East—and unresolved tensions between the U.S. and China, investors have been seeking protection. Gold prices reflect these concerns. Four years ago, an ounce of gold was priced at $1,300. Last Friday (18), it exceeded $2,700, a record high.

Continue reading.

[mhgrf]

On January 28, China and Thailand signed an agreement on mutual visa exemption for ordinary passport holders, which will come into effect on March 1. At that time, Thailand began last September for Chinese tourists to implement a phased unilateral visa-free policy, will be formally"Two-way" long-term arrangements.

It is the third country, after Singapore and the Antigua and Barbuda, to sign a visa waiver agreement with China this year to benefit holders of ordinary passports. So far, the number of countries with which China has such comprehensive visa-free arrangements has increased to 23, covering five continents.

Two countries or territories that have concluded agreements on mutual exemption of visas may enjoy a visa-free stay in each other's countries or territories, normally for 30 days, provided that their citizens hold valid passports or international travel documents as provided for in the agreements; However, if the stay more than 30 days, or in the local study, residence, work, etc. , still need to enter the other side before the visa authorities or the competent authorities to apply.

The scope of mutual visa exemption not only includes diplomatic passport, official passport, official ordinary passport, etc. , but also includes ordinary passport.

With the visa-free arrangement in effect, people who go abroad don't need to make another trip to the embassy or consulate before going on a trip. They don't have to prepare all kinds of visa materials, and they don't have to worry about when to sign the visa and whether they can make the trip in time, it would be easier to travel abroad and trade would be smoother.

Mr. Chen, a businessman from Zhejiang province who is engaged in cross-border trade, said he sent the relevant news link to Thai clients as soon as he learned the news of mutual visa exemption between China and Thailand. "They will be able to come whenever they want and it will be easier for them to work together."

Indeed, the visa facilitation initiative is not limited to the blanket exemption of visas. At present, China has concluded visa exemption agreements with 157 countries covering different types of passports, and has reached agreements or arrangements with 44 countries to simplify visa procedures. In addition, more than 60 countries and regions have granted visa-free access or visa-on-arrival facilities to Chinese citizens.

A series of visa facilitation measures have undoubtedly brought China closer to other countries. At the same time, more and more countries provide Chinese citizens with various forms of visa facilities.

The French government recently announced a five-year visa for holders of Chinese master's degrees who have studied in France; more visa facilities for Chinese citizens and Chinese companies investing in Switzerland; ... Ireland said it is willing to consider providing more convenience for Chinese citizens to visit Ireland and welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest in Ireland.

"Singapore is a developed economy in the world and an international financial centre," said Qiao Lina, head of the Shanghai Office of the singapore-based legay law firm, referring to the visa waiver, this sends a strong signal of confidence in China and a very important signal to other countries, especially in Southeast Asia.

According to the World Tourism Barometer released recently by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (now the United Nations Tourism Organization) , international tourist arrivals will return to pre-covid-19 levels in the 2024. The report expects the Chinese outbound and inbound tourism market to grow rapidly in the 2024.

Starting from December last year, China has introduced a number of visa optimization measures to come to China, to further facilitate the exchange of Chinese and foreign personnel: France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Malaysia to pilot a unilateral visa-free policy; The Chinese embassies and consulates abroad have adopted phased measures to reduce and waive visa fees in China, charging 75% of the current fee level. Further break through the foreign personnel to China business, study, tourism and other aspects of the blocking point...

According to the 2023,424m Chinese people entered and left the country, up 266.5% year-on-year, with foreigners up 693.1% .

The head of the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that China's confidence and determination to promote high-level opening-up has never changed, and China welcomes friends from all over the world to visit China for tourism, business, investment and study, we will also continue our efforts to provide more convenience for Chinese citizens to leave the country.

"Say go", "Want to come", "Two-way rush" beautiful waiting for you!

[njismun2024]

Crisis Update #49

10 April 2025

The Zambian government issued a statement:

"“Greetings, foreign firms that are investing in Zambia. The delegate of Zambia would like to apologize for the shock caused yesterday regarding the sudden implementation of our new 35% maximum shares law. Therefore, this delegate would like to adjust the law to become a much more feasible law, which is called the COMBUST Law. The terms and conditions of this law will be enclosed. This delegate hopes that the good relations between your firms and ours can be reestablished and flourish once more.

The COMBUST law is

The contents of the COMBUST Law are: -Foreign parties and firms that are looking towards buying shares in Zambia are limited to only buying 35% of each company’s shares in order to avoid complete takeover. However, Zambia gives these firms a larger opportunity to invest and build in Zambia. These firms will be able to build in the infrastructure aspect of Zambia. -Zambia will give 60% authority to these firms for running the daily operations of their infrastructure projects, however these projects will not be accepted unless these firms apply for a license from the Zambian government to give permission to operate. If there are any terms that the Zambian government would like to amend or discuss with these firms, there will be a discussion held between the Zambian government and the firm involved.

-The foreign companies that have been forcibly reduced to 35% will have their shares reinstated to 80% for the time being. These companies that are willing to come back to reinvest in Zambia will be given a tax of 0% tax for these companies revenues for the first 5 years, which is from 2024-2029.

The chinese investors are now more inclined to invest in Zambian companies, especially due to the 0% tax. Because of this China now controls most of the Zambian private companies, while the government does not get money because of the 0% tax.

The zambian citizens are currently enraged. They realize that the only ones benefiting from this deal are the private companies that gets money and chinese investors. Because there is no tax, the government and the citizens do not get anything. Was it too late for Zambia to back out of this deal, can they recover, only time can tell