import from china / china sourcing

US Restrictions on China Imports(TV and Flooring), Patent Issues, 2007

2008-06-25T09:32:00.000-07:00

China Patent Express Issue 133

Colour TV enterprises will be charged high patent licence fees
Chinese hardwood flooring makers lose patent infringement action in USA

Read Full Article

United States and China Shared on May 12th Earthquake in China, 2008

2008-05-20T16:18:00.000-07:00

Thanks for your emails and phone calls about the earthquake in China. Because of your concern and attention, I even went on TV 9 pm at Fox 31 News that day being interviewed for American Chinese community's response toward what have happened in China.

China is fine. Manufacturing is ongoing, and Olympic will be hosting. My family in China is fine as most of them are far away from the place where tragedy had happened. The only thing is a crack in one of my close friends' parents' kitchen that I know so far. We are blessed, especially me.

Tears, prayers and donation have been the theme last week in my community. We moaned when we heard about students being killed in classes, and toddlers in sleeping. We cried when aftershock carried on and death toll piles up. We are touched when hero and humane stories being told one after another. We are proud that Chinese military and police force are rescuing at frontier as well as paramedic and other supporters and volunteers. Chinese premier is there, along with media.

What excels the most at this earthquake, I believe, is the unity of the whole world especially that United States and China have reached. It's the same perspective, the same emotion, and the same report in media that I see, no second opinion.

It might be a brief crossing point in the history, but it amazed me how powerful it could be, and how beautiful it is to share like this for these two big countries. Some natural disasters are made worse by man's poor judgments (Proverbs 14:12) , but I didn't see at this 8.0 magnitude earthquake.

Do we all need a big shake like this to go back to human nature to understand each other?

We don't know all the reasons God brings or permits specific calamities or why particular people are made to suffer by them, but we should trust that in God's omniscience and ultimate wisdom He knows how to work out what is best for everyone in the end (Romans 8:28; 1 Timothy 2:4).

Links to get to know more about this earthquake in China, 2008 Link
#1) Red Cross Article

#2) Google Search on China Earthquake 2008
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About the Author
Lily Zhu, a China Sourcing specialist originally from China, serves US companies at Outsourcing In Asia, LLC in Boulder. She writes articles and newsletters based on her proven experiences with Chinese manufacturers and US importers. More info on the China Import subjects could be found at www.OutsourcingInAsia.com. You can also write to her at info@OutsourcingInAsia.com.

Please feel free to pass this message and share with someone related.

Non-tariff Measures on Import & Export Goods in China (Part One)

2008-05-20T16:17:00.000-07:00

The Chinese government regulates the foreign trade in the following areas: (1) goods moving across the Chinese border, containers, packing materials for the goods, and the means of transportation moving across the border; (2) the persons engaged in foreign trades including the consignor, the consignee, the transportation company and the declaration agents; (3) the supervision and control over the flow of funds arising from the cross-border settlement for trading in goods; (4) collecting duty and import-stage VAT on import and export goods.

Read Full Article in English and Chinese

U.S. Likely to Impose CV Duties on Several Mainland Chinese Products this Summer

2008-04-30T13:07:00.000-07:00

In April, the Department of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission launched separate countervailing duty/injury investigations on circular welded carbon quality steel line pipe and citric acid and citrate salts from China, bringing the total number of active CV investigations on mainland products to ten. As expected, U.S. producers have not been deterred by the USITC's final negative injury determination in the landmark anti-dumping and CV investigations of certain coated free sheet paper from China, which marked the reversal of a 20-year-old DOC policy against assessing CV duties on products from non-market economy countries, and have continued to take advantage of the CV provisions in the law to target imports from the mainland. The CV policy reversal was formalised through the DOC's final affirmative subsidy determination on coated free sheet paper, issued on 17 October 2007, and was by no means altered by the USITC's negative injury determination.

U.S. Likely to Impose CV Duties on Several Mainland Chinese Products this Summer (hktdc.com)

Efforts to Move China Currency Bill through Congress Seemingly Lose Momentum Despite Growing Trade Deficit

2008-03-02T16:55:00.000-08:00

There is increasing evidence that congressional efforts to approve legislation to address the alleged undervaluation of China's currency have lost considerable momentum over the past several weeks despite a growing U.S. trade deficit with the mainland and a deteriorating outlook for the U.S. economy.

Full Article(tdctrade.com)

Profile of Hong Kong's Medical & Healthcare Equipment Industry

2008-02-22T17:17:00.000-08:00

The Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) came into effect on 1 January 2004. All goods made in Hong Kong, including medical and healthcare products, subject to the CEPA's rules of origin, can enjoy duty-free access to the Chinese mainland beginning January 2006.

Hong Kong's medical and healthcare equipment industry is mainly targeting at the household consumer market. In Jan-Nov 2007, Hong Kong's total exports of medical and healthcare equipment grew by 27%. Exports to the Chinese mainland and the US, the largest markets for Hong Kong's exports of medical and healthcare equipment, increased by 28% and 9% respectively, while exports to emerging markets, such as Russia, increased markedly.

Aging population and increased health consciousness are factors boosting the demand for home healthcare equipment such as massagers, body-mass-index (BMI) calculators, body-fat scales, ionizers and positioning aids, as well as medical equipment for patients suffering from cardiopulmonary disease, diabetes and neurological disorders.

Modern technology is also playing a major role in the medical and healthcare equipment industry. Innovations such as microminiature and remote surgery techniques, DNA-based diagnostics, tissue-engineered organs and advanced information technologies provide solutions to some of the most persistent and debilitating healthcare problems and create demand for new medical and healthcare devices.

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IPR Seizures from China Grow Appreciably in FY2007

2008-02-15T14:53:00.000-08:00

U.S. Customs and Border Protection recently released statistics regarding the volume and value of its seizures of intellectual property rights infringing articles during fiscal year 2007. These statistics show that the total domestic value of IPR seizures grew from US$155.4 million in FY06 to US$196.8 million in FY07, a 26.6 percent jump. The total number of seizures declined moderately in FY07, however, down by nearly seven percent to 13,657, which means that CBP officers are seizing shipments with a significantly higher value. To wit, the average domestic value of a seized shipment was US$14,407 in FY07 compared to US$10,587 in FY06.

View Full Article (tdctrade.com)

US House Approves Consumer Product Safety Bill

2008-02-06T13:13:00.001-08:00

The House of Representatives passed on 19 December legislation (H.R. 4040) that would substantially modify the current U.S. safety regime for consumer products. The bill had been approved only one day earlier by the Energy and Commerce Committee and was expeditiously brought to the House floor for a vote thanks to a concerted effort by committee chairman John Dingell (Democrat-Michigan) and Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection Subcommittee Chairman Bobby Rush (Democrat-Illinois).

Importers, retailers and distributors would be required to identify the manufacturer of a product, by name, address or other identifying information, where known, upon request by the CPSC.

Click to read full article (tdctrade.com)

Mainland China's Economic Review 2007 by Hang Seng Bank

2008-01-31T14:54:00.000-08:00

*Mainland China's economy remained strong in the first 11 months of 2007, being supported by solid domestic and overseas demand.

*Although export growth has eased as a result of the reduction and removal of export tax rebates in 2007 and the recent slowdown in global economic growth, strong retail sales in the domestic market continued to support a relatively strong industrial output.

*Consumer price inflation, however, surged to an 11-year high of 6.9% in November as food prices continued to soar.

*To prevent the economy from overheating, the government raised banks' required reserve ratio ten times in 2007 to the record level of 14.5%, and hiked banks' lending rates six times during the year. Monetary control will tighten further in 2008.

Full Report of Mainland China's Economic Review of 2007 (tdctrade.com)

Taxation on temporary import and export goods

2007-10-29T17:20:00.000-07:00

Subject to the approval by the Chinese customs,a list of goods temporarily imported into China, for a period not exceeding 6 months, are exempted from tariff and VAT.

However the consignee is required to place a refundable security deposit at the bank equal to the amount of the duty and taxes payable. The customs may grant an extension of stay for the goods upon the application of the taxpayer.

Taxation on temporary import and export goods -

American Imports, Chinese Deaths: The human cost of doing business - Salt Lake Tribune

2007-10-24T15:20:00.000-07:00

MONDAY
Outdated machines cause an epidemic of amputations.

TUESDAY
Batteries made by hand lead to kidney failure and death.

WEDNESDAY
Who's responsible for workers' health? Not us, American companies say.

'Big problem for Americans': With each new report of lead detected on a made-in-China toy, Americans express outrage: These toys could poison children. But Chinese workers making the toys - and countless other products for America - touch and inhale carcinogenic materials every day, all day long. Benzene. Lead. Cadmium. Toluene. Nickel. Mercury.

Many are dying. They have fatal occupational diseases. Mostly they are young, in their 20s and 30s and 40s...

Salt Lake Tribune - American Imports, Chinese Deaths: The human cost of doing business: " MONDAY Outdated machines cause an epidemic of amputations. TUESDAY Batteries made by hand lead to kidney failure and death. WEDNESDAY Who's responsible for workers' health? Not us, American companies say. "

China Exim Bank says to further promote imports

2007-10-24T15:06:00.000-07:00

The Import and Export Bank of China (China Exim Bank) has granted US$20 billion of supportive fund to promote Chinese imports from other countries, a bank official said on Thursday.

China Exim Bank says to further promote imports

Popularity of CV Duty Actions against Chinese Products Continues to Grow as Congress Considers Possible Amendments to the Law (tdctrade.com)

2007-10-18T13:49:00.000-07:00

Last month, the U.S. International Trade Commission launched separate countervailing duty investigations on lightweight thermal paper and certain magnets from China, bringing the total number of active CV duty investigations on Chinese products to SEVEN.

Popularity of CV Duty Actions against Chinese Products Continues to Grow as Congress Considers Possible Amendments to the Law (tdctrade.com)

Frequently Asked Questions for Canton Fair, 2007 October-- by Outsourcing In Asia, LLC

2007-10-14T16:21:00.000-07:00

China Export Commodities Fair, also known as Canton Fair, is held twice a year in Spring and Fall since it was launched in the Spring of 1957. It is China's largest trade fair of the highest level, of the most inclusive varieties and of the largest attendance and business turnover.

October 15th, 2007 is the first day of 102th Canton Fair. at below link you could find answers to FAQ in three categories about this fair.

1)Traveling Questions
2)Exhibition Visiting Questions
3)Buying at Exhibition Questions

Get your Frequently Asked Questions Answered for Canton Fair, here

U.S. officials study Japan for lessons on Chinese food imports - International Herald Tribune

2007-10-14T16:13:00.000-07:00

Increasing concerns about the safety of Chinese products have the U.S. government looking at the tough approaches taken by another Asian country, Japan."Japan is five years ahead of the rest of the world in dealing with quality problems from China," said XXX.

(Japan)test samples from about 10 percent of all food shipments entering Japan while the United States, which imports about a tenth of its food supply, tests less than 1 percent of shipments.

Read Full article: U.S. officials study Japan for lessons on Chinese food imports: "tests less than 1 percent of shipments"

The 2007 Shanghai Foreign Investment Environment White Paper Released

2007-10-05T16:46:00.000-07:00

Of the 481 foreign enterprises in Fortune 500 in 2006, 257 have made investments in Shanghai. As at the end of last year, these 257 companies have invested in 1,884 projects with total contracted foreign investment of US$22.701 billion, accounting for 19.82% of the city's total contracted foreign investment. The 10 Fortune 500 companies with the biggest investment, in descending order of their investment scale, are: General Electric, Sumitomo, Hitachi, Itochu, Mitsubishi, Mitsui, Siemens, Fujifilm, Marubeni and Volkswagen.

View full at tdctrade.com

Outsourcing in Fujian Benefits Attract Multinational Companies

2007-10-02T22:23:00.000-07:00

In order to attract more multinational companies to set up production bases, R&D centres, marketing centres and regional headquarters in Fujian in a move to undertake international services outsourcing, the opinions stipulate that prior approval and easier business registration are granted to enterprises engaged in service outsourcing.

View Full Aricle at tdctrade.com

Other related information on Outsourcing in China, visit OutsourcingInAsia.com

China Raises Import Duties on Luxury Goods

2007-10-02T22:19:00.000-07:00

Effective on 1 August, duties on luxury consumer goods, including brandname watches and cosmetics, that's carried by mainlanders into the country from abroad are raised by 10% to 30%.

Read Full at article from tdctrade.com

The Hidden Truth about Mattel Toy and Graco Crib Recalls

2007-10-02T10:08:00.000-07:00

---An perspective from a China Sourcing Consultant AND a regular US consumer

As being pregnant and ready to deliver any time, I was panicked when hearing the news on TV that cribs sold in the States could be dangerous to my baby. I googled to find more information, these headlines coming up,

"Is China Trying to Kill US?"
"Dangerous made-in-China products..."

I am offended as an original Chinese who works in the States helping US companies to import made-in-China products.

...

Who wants to buy more for less?
Who would demand that I want That NOW?

The answer is, "Us, US Consumers."

Read Full Story

Mattel Official Delivers an Apology in China - New York Times

2007-09-26T14:25:00.000-07:00

What is the right or wrong?
1) Mom teaches, "Never blame innocent people. " In this case, don't blame who were hired by Mattel to earn money using their honest labor--Chinese workers.
2) Mom teaches, "Men created equal. Don't always think yourself deserves better attention than the others." In this case, dangerous China was regarded as murder of our precious US kids.

Mattel own their Chinese factories, hire their own people, design their own toys, buy their own supply, and inspect their own quality before selling to US kids. Questions,
1)Who made a fortune using those Chinese resources?
2)Who shall be blamed when Mattel toys hurts or kills?
Sourcing from China is hurting some of our jobs, but it is providing the luxury life we can't afford using our own labor.

Don't grudge on a couple of incorrect sourcing practices made by certain careless companies, and use this as a weapon to hurt the other people's feeling. That’s unfair and wrong.

Read more: Mattel Official Delivers an Apology in China - New York Times

Mattel Toy Recalls -- Mattel Apologized to China

2007-09-24T19:06:00.000-07:00

Finally, Mattel apologized to China, the place that created a fortune for them, but was blamed by Mattel's own fault. Mattel owns the factory, its own people does the quality inspection, and does its own design...

Mattel loses moral high ground to China (Shades of Gray)

USTR Seeks Comments on WTO Dispute with China over Subsidies

2007-09-21T17:20:00.000-07:00

Issue 19, 2007 (13 September)

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is seeking comments by 5 October on the issues raised in a WTO case filed by the U.S. against China's continued use of subsidies that appear to be prohibited by WTO rules. The U.S. argues that China maintains measures that provide enterprises in China with refunds, reductions or exemptions from taxes otherwise due to the government on the condition that those enterprises purchase domestic over imported goods or meet certain export performance criteria.
The U.S. and Mexico held two rounds of consultations with Chinese authorities on this matter earlier this year in an effort to reach a mutually agreeable solution. The consultations did not resolve the dispute, however, which compelled the U.S. and Mexico to file separate requests on 13 July for the establishment of a dispute settlement panel. China blocked those requests on 24 July but they were subsequently re-filed and accepted on 31 August, which means that a panel will be established shortly. The panel will have six months from its establishment to issue its final report to the parties involved in the dispute. The report will be made available to all WTO members three weeks later, at which time China, the U.S. or Mexico will have the option of filing an appeal with the Appellate Body. If that occurs, the Appellate Body would have a maximum of 90 days to render a final verdict.

News Source

Risk Factors in China Sourcing

2007-09-21T17:05:00.000-07:00

Author: Dylan Sun | Posted: 21-09-2007

Risk factors involved in China sourcing are worth taking note off before setting off. It is prudent to build in mechanisms to offset risks in China sourcing from the beginning.
-Risk #1 in China Sourcing – Renewed Competition
-Risk # 2 in China Sourcing – Question of Legal Protection
-Risk # 3 – Is The Cost of China Sourcing Really Low?
-Risk # 4 – Contradictions and opportunities for China sourcing

Full Article

China Sourcing: Strategies and Advantages

2007-09-19T21:13:00.000-07:00

Author: Dylan Sun

For most of the companies China manufacturers offer three broad benefits for savings.

1.The first is related to raw materials and labor. Producers in China benefit from a massive pool of workers, stretchy working conditions.

2.The second is the one sometimes ignored called as wealth avoidance. These include lower setup land and factory costs.

3.The third advantage is a more recent enough lies in low cost product design and research and development actions.

Read Full

Four Observations on Import and Export Prices and the Dollar

2007-09-18T21:55:00.000-07:00

This critics talks about Importing prices raise and Dollar re-evaluation, from an economist's perspective.

Related other link: the reasons of importing price raise, more digetstive!
Read here here

China Curbs Garlic, Ginger Exports to U.S. for Safety Reason

2007-09-18T21:27:00.000-07:00

Responding to mattel toys' recall and toxic pet food from China, Chinese government is working on from inside to prevent more incidents like these. Good job.

Read Full Story

What Makes a Good Sourcing Inquiry-China Sourcing Step 1

2007-09-17T21:16:00.000-07:00

A good inquiry get you quotes in no time.
A good inquiry saves confusion and leads to efficient communication with Chinese suppliers.
A good inquiry starts good DIY Sourcing business.

What are necessary elements in a good inquiry?
How questions should be asked?

View full article at
http://www.outsourcinginasia.com/forum/index.php?topic=3.0

This above content talks about the sourcing step one. A full import-from-China process are accessible at http://www.outsourcinginasia.com/resources_in_china/import_from_china.html

How Government Decisions Change Sourcing Jobs and US Consumers?

2007-09-07T21:38:00.000-07:00

Critics and comments on Chinese Currency Reevaluation and How well US Companies doing on Exporting to China

In international trade, currency inflation would discourage its country's exporting and encourage importing. This is the main reason why US government takes all effort to inflate Chinese RMB currency, therefore, to encourage more US exports to China and deter further Chinese products invasion.

Following the path, Chinese government in 2007 issued a couple policies. Starting in June 1st, 2007, many items that Chinese manufacturers export would face increased tariff rates. Below are from the announcement of the State Council Tariff Regulation Committee of The People's Republic of China.

Levy 5% provisional export tariff rate on 53 steel products such as coiled, sheet, wire steel and 5 natural resources items such as Ammonium metatungstate, magnesite, Burning magnesium, etc.

Levy 10% provisional export tariff rate on 30 steel products such as steel of the shot, Angle Profile, etc. and coal tar, natural graphite, rare metal, refined lead, oxide dysprosium(Dy), oxide terbium(Tb), Not unwrought roll zinc and 21 items that are non-ferrous metal waste and scrap.

Levy 15% provisional export tariff rate on 33 items that are domestic rare metal raw mineral such as hard coke, steel billet, steel ingot, pig iron, a portion of iron alloy, fluorite, wood-non-coniferous and nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr),wolfram(W), manganese(Mn), molybdenum(Mo), rare-earth metal, etc.

The above three categories encompass 142 tax items.

Among, 110 items had non tariff before, and 32 items increased from 5% to 10%, or from 10% to 15%. China export manufacturing, and our sourcing projects that involve with above resources is encountering a significant increasing cost challenge. I bet a lot of Chinese product purchasers have had some taste already.

On the other hand, Chinese government is encouraging import by lowering provisional tariffs will apply to 209 types of imported products. Among these, key parts and components such as positive displacement pumps, seals, parts for roller bearings and valves, compressors and parts for air-conditioning machines and refrigerators, parts for engineering machines, parts for cameras, parts for television sets, and lenses for video cameras, will be subject to provisional tariff rates of 2-6%. Certain products for daily use will also enjoy lower provisional import tariff rates of 6-17%. These mainly include baby food, kitchen utensils, tableware, food processors, corrective lenses, building materials, ornamental ceramic articles and household appliances (hktdc.com, 2007). Before, some products' going-into-China tariff could be as high as 25%.Under conforming with WTO obligation pressure, Chinese currency is undergoing around 6% inflation in the last couple of month. On the other hand, US currency is depreciating the same value when purchasing from China.

What does that mean for our China Sourcing Business? We need to pay extra 6% for everything we buy from China. For common US consumers, in about 2 month, they would start to feel the their luxury life has some change, they would be paying more to buy less.

This might be something US citizens not really like to see. However, this is what lots of enthusiasts really liked trying to use US exports to gain back job opportunities. But does it really work?

The trade deficit with China might be able to improve with more exports. Currently it's 1 to 5 in term of Exporting comparing to Importing trade with China (U.S. Census Bureau's data, 2007).

However, is Chinese currency inflation a good way to encourage exporting to China by sacrificing many consumers' lifestyle?

Use the link below or see attached, let's take a look at China Customs' number on export-to-overseas (yellow) and import-into-China (blue) in 2005. USA just doesn't do as close to Japan and Korea, not even as well as EU.

In 2005 Japan sold almost $100 billion worth of products to China
The U.S. only sold about half that much, even though our economy size is 2.5 times of Japan's
Even a comparable EU (in terms of both cultural similarity and GDP clout) did 50% better than we did

US companies haven't do a good job in the history. How much do you think Chinese currency inflation could change the current trade deficit and make us do better?

This might be able to tell how much we are shooting at a wrong target, Chinese currency.

Some Chinese consumer research shows, Chinese consumers usually prefer US products over any other country's.

Are there something missing, why China is the only one to blame?
Does US company really understand Chinese market?
Are there some education needed to equip US companies to sell more to Chinese? For American exporters, there are a lot to learn about the other side of the world, China. For someone who's interested to find out answers to this topic, you can visit http://www.sellinasia.com/.

Like many Chinese manufacturers are losing their jobs, a lot of sourcing consultants like us would soon join them in the States. It is worthy only if US exporting could land us more jobs, right?

However, did you know,

“If you took every one single job in the US today and shipped it to China,… It would still have labor surplus (http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/video/shifthappens).”