Poland and China have had a constructive relationship since 1949, focusing on enhancing bilateral cooperation in trade, agriculture, and infrastructure under the Belt and Road Initiative. Despite recent challenges and shifts in relations, high-level political interactions between the two nations have remained consistent.

Poland and China have maintained a constructive relationship since 1949, with significant economic and diplomatic engagements. Recent high-level meetings, including Duda’s 2024 visit to Beijing, have focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation, particularly in trade, agriculture, and infrastructure under the Belt and Road Initiative, amidst

China and Poland have cultivated a constructive relationship since establishing formal diplomatic ties, marked by significant economic and diplomatic engagement. Poland’s participation in China’s 16+1 format, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) underscores its commitment to enhancing bilateral ties, aiming to boost economic growth and secure alternative funding outside the EU.

However, in recent years, this relationship has undergone notable changes. The anticipated economic benefits did not fully materialize, prompting a reassessment in Warsaw, especially amidst increasing geopolitical tensions, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Despite these challenges, high-level political interactions between both nations have remained consistent, indicating ongoing, albeit cautious, dialogue.

This article provides insights into bilateral trade and investment between China and Poland, alongside an overview of the tax and investment treaties that underpin their economic relationship.

Diplomatic ties between the Republic of Poland and the People’s Republic of China were established in 1949. Since then, the relationship between Poland and China has evolved into a multifaceted and evolving partnership. In June 2016, under the leadership of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Polish President Andrzej Duda, China and Poland elevated their relationship to a strategic partnership.

Since the beginning of the Trump administration’s trade disputes with China in 2017, however, Poland, as Europe’s largest participant in China’s BRI, has experienced significant shifts in its relations with Beijing. This period coincided with heightened Sino-US rivalry, exacerbated by the global pandemic, which has influenced Polish perceptions of China.

A pivotal event impacting Sino-Polish relations has been Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. China’s perceived neutrality and alignment with Russia in this conflict have strained ties with Poland, as its seen by many in Poland as favoring Russia.

This article is republished from China Briefing. Read the rest of the original article.

China Briefing is written and produced by Dezan Shira & Associates. The practice assists foreign investors into China and has done since 1992 through offices in Beijing, Tianjin, Dalian, Qingdao, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Suzhou, Guangzhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong. Please contact the firm for assistance in China at china@dezshira.com.

The State Council released Fair Competition Review Regulations to ensure a level playing field for state-owned and private companies. Administrative authorities must conduct fair competition reviews of policy measures to prevent favoritism. Policy measures that restrict market access, flow of goods, or increase production costs will not be issued.

On June 6, 2024, the State Council released the final version of the Fair Competition Review Regulations (the “regulations), in an effort to “unify the domestic environment” and level the playing field between state-owned and private companies.

The regulations, which are based on China’s Anti-Monopoly Law, will require administrative authorities to conduct fair competition reviews when drafting laws, administrative regulations, local regulations, rules, normative documents, and policy measures (hereinafter collectively referred to as policy measures), to ensure that they do not unfairly favor certain market entities.

The regulations prohibit drafting authorities from including any content in policy measures that may negatively impact market access, the free flow of goods and resources, production and business costs, or production and business activities. Policy measures found to contain any such content during the review process (or that do not qualify for the exemptions, see below) will not be issued.

Specifically, the following content that may directly or indirectly restrict market access and exit cannot be included:

They also cannot include the following content that may restrict the free flow of goods and resources:

Without a legal or administrative regulatory basis or State Council approval, they also cannot include the following content that affects production and business costs:

This article is republished from China Briefing. Read the rest of the original article.

China Briefing is written and produced by Dezan Shira & Associates. The practice assists foreign investors into China and has done since 1992 through offices in Beijing, Tianjin, Dalian, Qingdao, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Suzhou, Guangzhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong. Please contact the firm for assistance in China at china@dezshira.com.

EU-China relations are crucial in global business, with geopolitical shifts and technological competition shaping the dynamic. The recent EU Parliament elections have brought a political realignment, leading to a more assertive stance towards China. Strategic discussions and new working groups aim to navigate the evolving relationship.

EU-China relations play a crucial role in the global business landscape. The current circumstances, marked by geopolitical shifts, economic interdependence, and technological competition, contribute to the volatility and frequent adjustments in this relationship. In this timeline, we aim to capture key milestones and developments that shape EU-China ties.

The European Parliament elections, held between June 6 and June 9, 2024, have ushered in a new era for EU-China relations. The election results revealed a significant shift in the political landscape, with centrist parties losing ground to far-right groups like the Identity and Democracy (ID) and the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR). This political realignment is poised to influence the EU’s approach to China, introducing more varied and potentially conflicting perspectives on policy.

Traditionally, the EU has maintained a cautious stance toward China, epitomized by the 2019 publication of the EU-China Strategic Outlook, which framed the relationship as one of “partnership, competition, and systemic rivalry.” This tripartite approach was later reiterated in the European Council’s Conclusion on China. However, the narrative toward China has taken a decisive turn with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s speech delivered on March 30, 2023. This speech marked a shift towards a more assertive stance, further strengthened by the release of the European Economic Security Strategy in June of the same year.

In the aftermath of the 2024 elections, the increased fragmentation within the EU Parliament suggests a more complex and uncertain path to forming a cohesive strategy toward China. This uncertainty poses challenges for European companies conducting business with China, as well as Chinese and global businesses operating in Europe, who must now navigate a more unpredictable regulatory environment.

Amid these developments, the Chinese government is keenly observing the evolving dynamics within the EU. China aims to cultivate allies within the European bloc, and this intent was evident during President Xi Jinping’s recent European tour, which included official visits to France, Serbia, and Hungary. During his visit, President Xi reiterated the EU’s significance as China’s major trading partner.

As the new EU Parliament begins its work, strategic discussions have been underway to address key issues, including the EU’s technological and strategic autonomy. To manage different views and promote collaboration on shared interests with China, new cross-regional working groups have been established. These groups are focusing on sectors such as agriculture, aviation, artificial intelligence, energy, and finance, aiming to enhance resilience and foster dialogue.

In this article, we present a timeline of EU-China relations following the EU Parliament elections, reflecting the complexities and opportunities presented by this new chapter in bilateral relations.

This article is republished from China Briefing. Read the rest of the original article.

China Briefing is written and produced by Dezan Shira & Associates. The practice assists foreign investors into China and has done since 1992 through offices in Beijing, Tianjin, Dalian, Qingdao, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Suzhou, Guangzhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong. Please contact the firm for assistance in China at china@dezshira.com.