Announcement No. 23 of 2026, jointly issued by the Ministry of Finance, the State Taxation Administration, the NDRC and the MIIT, lets IC and industrial-machine-tool enterprises defer income tax on non-monetary asset exchanges over up to five years. 财政部、税务总局、国家发展改革委、工业和信息化部 2026 年第 23 号公告允许集成电路企业、工业母机企业将非货币性资产交换所得在不超过 5 年期限内分期均匀计入应纳税所得额。 The preference applies to non-monetary asset exchanges occurring between 1 January 2026 and 31 December 2028, with the recognised gain spread evenly across no more than five years. 优惠适用于 2026 年 1 月 1 日至 … IC and Industrial-Machine-Tool Enterprises: Five-Year Deferral for Non-Monetary Asset Exchange Gains (Announcement No. 23 of 2026)Read more
China’s Carbon Market Enters Its Next Phase: Industry Expansion, Penalty Reform and Carbon Footprints (August 2026)
On 13 August 2026, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment said China’s national carbon-emission trading market will expand from power, steel, cement and aluminium smelting to petrochemical and chemical sectors, covering about 80% of national CO2 emissions. 2026 年 8 月 13 日，生态环境部表示全国碳排放权交易市场将在发电、钢铁、水泥、铝冶炼四个行业基础上扩大到石化、化工等高排放行业，实现对全国约 80% 二氧化碳排放的有效管控。 Cumulative turnover of the national carbon market exceeded 930 million tonnes by the end of July 2026. 截至 2026 年 7 月底，全国碳排放权交易市场累计成交量突破 9.3 亿吨。 China is also building carbon-footprint data and standards systems and a … China’s Carbon Market Enters Its Next Phase: Industry Expansion, Penalty Reform and Carbon Footprints (August 2026)Read more
Hainan Moves to Codify “Zero-Tariff” Resident Duty-Free Shops: Draft Rules and Business Opportunities (August 2026)
On 10 August 2026, Hainan’s commerce authority released a draft regulation on duty-free shops selling “zero-tariff” daily consumer goods to island residents, seeking public comment until 8 September 2026. 2026 年 8 月 10 日，海南省商务厅公布《海南自由贸易港岛内居民消费”零关税”进境商品经营主体及免税店管理规定（征求意见稿）》，向社会公开征求意见至 2026 年 9 月 8 日。 The draft upgrades the current provisional licensing of zero-tariff daily-consumption retail into a standing statutory licensing regime, with defined operator qualifications and shop rules. 征求意见稿拟把现行临时性许可升级为常态化法定许可，明确”零关税”日用消费品经营资格与免税店经营规范。 Operators must have independent civil-liability capacity, a fixed business site in Hainan, at least … Hainan Moves to Codify “Zero-Tariff” Resident Duty-Free Shops: Draft Rules and Business Opportunities (August 2026)Read more
Vehicle Catalogues and Emission Rules: What August 2026 Brings for Automakers and Suppliers in China
On 12 August 2026, the MIIT published Announcement No. 21 of 2026, releasing Batch 409 of the catalogue of road motor-vehicle manufacturers and products together with the NEV catalogues for vehicle/vessel tax relief and purchase-tax exemption. 2026 年 8 月 12 日，工信部发布 2026 年第 21 号公告，公布《道路机动车辆生产企业及产品》（第 409 批）以及车船税减免、车辆购置税减免的新能源汽车车型目录。 Batch 409 includes 478 NEV product models across 217 manufacturers and 210 brands, with battery-electric models dominating at 415 units. 第 409 批共 217 家企业、210 个品牌、478 个新能源产品型号列入，其中纯电动产品 415 个。 From 1 August … Vehicle Catalogues and Emission Rules: What August 2026 Brings for Automakers and Suppliers in ChinaRead more
Zhuhai–Macao Ports Upgrade the “Joint Inspection, One-Stop Release” Model: What It Means for Greater Bay Area Travel (August 2026)
From 18 August 2026, three cooperation-inspection ports — Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge, Hengqin and Qingmao — introduced three measures optimising the “joint inspection, one-stop release” model. 自 2026 年 8 月 18 日起，港珠澳大桥、横琴、青茂三个合作查验口岸实施优化”合作查验、一次放行”查验模式的三项便利措施。 Macao residents and Hong Kong permanent residents may now use their Home Return Permit (including the non-Chinese-national version) in both directions at the cooperation fast lanes, realising “one-card clearance”. 澳门居民与香港永久性居民经合作快捷通道可双向交验回乡证（含非中国籍），实现”一证通关”。 Chinese citizens holding a one-year multi-entry exit-entry permit can use the cooperation fast lanes at the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao … Zhuhai–Macao Ports Upgrade the “Joint Inspection, One-Stop Release” Model: What It Means for Greater Bay Area Travel (August 2026)Read more
China Expands 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit to 57 Countries: New Options for Business Travelers (August 2026)
From 20 August 2026, nationals of Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam can use China’s 240-hour visa-free transit policy and Hainan’s 30-day visa-free entry policy, raising the eligible country counts to 57 and 61 respectively. 自 2026 年 8 月 20 日起，吉尔吉斯斯坦、越南公民可适用 240 小时过境免签与海南 30 天入境免签政策，两项政策的适用国家分别增至 57 国与 61 国。 Eligible travellers holding ordinary passports and confirmed interline tickets can enter through any of 65 open ports, including Beijing and Shanghai, and stay up to 240 hours (10 days) within designated areas. 持普通护照与确定日期及行程联程客票的旅客，可从北京、上海等 … China Expands 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit to 57 Countries: New Options for Business Travelers (August 2026)Read more
Expatriate IIT Status in China: Handling Residence-Day Changes Under the Shanghai Tax Memo
Shanghai’s tax authority issued a memo on 2025 tax-year cases where foreign employees’ actual days of stay in China differed from the estimate used at their first payroll withholding of the year. 上海税务机关发布备忘录，针对 2025 纳税年度外籍员工实际境内停留天数与年初首次扣缴所依据的预估不一致的情形给出处理规则。 Non-resident individuals without a Chinese residence, or with fewer than 183 cumulative days in China in a tax year, are taxed only on China-source income and do not file an annual reconciliation. 在境内无住所、一个纳税年度内在境内居住累计不满 183 天的非居民个人，仅就中国境内来源所得纳税，无需办理年度汇算。 An individual who is pre-judged as a resident but actually … Expatriate IIT Status in China: Handling Residence-Day Changes Under the Shanghai Tax MemoRead more
Network Data Security Risk Assessment: The New Annual Obligation for Important Data Processors (Effective 20 August 2026)
The Measures for Network Data Security Risk Assessment, jointly issued by the CAC, MIIT and MPS, took effect on 20 August 2026. 由国家网信办、工业和信息化部、公安部联合制定的《网络数据安全风险评估办法》于 2026 年 8 月 20 日起施行。 Important data processors must conduct a risk assessment at least once a year; when the security status of important data changes materially, a targeted assessment is required for the changed parts. 重要数据处理者应当每年至少开展一次风险评估；重要数据安全状态发生重大变化时，还须针对变动部分及时开展专项评估。 Network data processors may conduct assessments themselves or entrust third-party institutions; in high-risk situations authorities may require assessment by … Network Data Security Risk Assessment: The New Annual Obligation for Important Data Processors (Effective 20 August 2026)Read more
Foreign M&A in China: The Push to Revise the 2006 M&A Measures and New Strategic-Investment Channels (2026)
China’s Action Plan to Stabilise and Optimise Foreign Investment Utilisation, issued on 16 June 2026, commits to accelerating the revision of the 2006 Measures on M&A of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors (“the 10-Order”). 2026 年 6 月 16 日印发的《利用外资固稳促优行动方案》承诺加快修订 2006 年《关于外国投资者并购境内企业的规定》（”10 号令”）。 The Action Plan also allows qualified foreign equity-investment institutions to participate as strategic investors in securities issuance of listed companies in non-related industries, widening foreign access to China’s A-share capital market. 行动方案允许符合条件的外资股权投资机构以战略投资者身份参与非相关行业上市公司证券发行，拓宽外资进入 A 股资本市场的路径。 The planned revision … Foreign M&A in China: The Push to Revise the 2006 M&A Measures and New Strategic-Investment Channels (2026)Read more
Merger Control Goes Regional: China’s Expanded Delegated Review System and New Typical Cases (August 2026)
From 1 August 2026, the SAMR’s refined delegated-review system adds review of certain non-simple concentration cases by the five original provincial bureaus and adds Liaoning, Zhejiang and Sichuan as delegated bureaus for simple cases. 自 2026 年 8 月 1 日起，市场监管总局完善后的经营者集中委托审查制度在原 5 个省级市场监管部门审查部分简易案件的基础上，增加部分非简易案件委托审查，并新增辽宁、浙江、四川 3 个受委托部门。 Delegated simple-case bureaus now total eight, and the delegated average acceptance and completion times have both stayed within roughly 20 days, materially faster than national review. 简易案件受委托省级部门增至 8 个；受委托部门平均受理与审结时间均在约 20 天内，明显快于全国审查。 Zhejiang handles simple cases … Merger Control Goes Regional: China’s Expanded Delegated Review System and New Typical Cases (August 2026)Read more