It seems that every day you read headlines about China: a manufacturing firm's CEO blames China for eating up its market share; employees lament losing jobs to China's cheap labor market; or an economist rails about the valuation of the yuan. It is true that in many instances, China is getting the better of American business, but, as Ted C. Fishman points out in the March 2005 cover story of Inc. magazine, China also can create extraordinary opportunities.
This list of Internet resources on doing business with China can help you unearth those opportunities and discover the best strategies and must-know information for doing business in China.
News and Analysis
China Business Daily
The English version of this Chinese business newspaper is a must-read for owners looking for timely information on business in China, including news on investments, industry performance, laws and regulations, and more.
China Watch
Subscription-based
For further analysis on the issues, subscribe to Orbis Publications' China Watch, which provides political, economic, and business information to executives interested in conducting business with China. Its Executive Service includes 52 weekly e-mail briefings along with six or more in-depth analyses on issues related to economic policy, financial markets, foreign investment, WTO, industries, politics and more. Sign up for a one-month trial for free to review the product.
Subscriptions: China Watch Executive Service -- $595/year; China Watch Forecasting Service -- $495 (entitles you to a 150-page annual country forecast as well as quarterly updates).
Industry, Trade, and the Economy: Data and Analysis
If you like to crunch numbers, this is the site for you. It slices and dices the effect of trade with foreign countries from a U.S. perspective, from analyses on exports, jobs and foreign investment by state to highlights of U.S. foreign trade stats and information on small and medium size enterprises exporting to China. One very useful tool is the TradeStats Express Home, which provides visual representations of the latest national trade data and state export data, including exports from the U.S., or even from individual states, to China.
One-Stop Shopping
Export.gov
This websote offers broad information on doing business with China, from U.S. Export Regulations to China Law and Regulations, to a slew of links to relevant resources on getting started in China . Of particular note are links to SchedNet, where U.S. exporters can find up-to-date information on freight schedules and rates by air and sea; an article that outlines what it will take to get started in China; and a number of associations that can provide help, including American Chambers of Commerce located in Beijing and Shanghai. Lastly, its Best Prospects information lets you in on what industries are ripe for doing business in China. Export.gov has timely information on a number of markets, from Aerospace to Telecommunications, with each report providing an overview of the sector and detailing the "Best Prospects." All reports listed have been filed since 2003, and can be downloaded as PDFs for free.
U.S. Commercial Service China
The U.S. Commercial Service at the U.S. Embassy Beijing emphasizes export help for small and medium size companies. The organization has six offices in China -- Beijing, Shanghai, Shenyang, Chengdu, Guangzhou and Hong Kong - which provide solutions for businesses entering or expanding in China. The website offers a comprehensive look at some of the details in doing business there. Links of note: China Information by Industry; Business Services Providers in China; and a free market research library, searcable by industry, region and country.
US-China Business Council
Founded in 1973, the US-China Business Council is a private, non-profit, non-partisan, membership association for U.S. companies doing business in China. Access to much of the website is for members-only, though you can find a number of up-to-date market reports and general economic information on China for free.
But where this site shines is in its paid features. For an annual fee, anywhere from $2,500 to $17,500, depending on company revenue, member firms can gain access to extensive information and services. One paid feature, a business advisory service, includes advisors state-side as well as in Beijing and Shanghai. Advisors can answer questions about conducting business in China, from the translation of Chinese regulations to helping member companies find out where they rank in terms of trade within the country. Members also gain access to a number of timely publications including China Business Review magazine, and China Market Intelligence, a weekly e-mail newsletter. Monthly luncheons held in Washington, D.C., for members include guest speakers sharing information on topics, such as currency valuation and securing visas for Chinese colleagues. Larger functions include annual forecast meetings, which offer an in-depth look at what's coming up in the year ahead in terms of Chinese politics, economics, and trade. The council is also an advocate for businesses in China, supporting business requests and raising concerns in Washington, D.C., and Beijing for member companies.
