China’s annual “Two Sessions”, the meetings of the National People's Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), ended a bit over a week ago. The ‘Two Sessions’ are less about parliamentary work in the western sense and serve more as a notification and publishing link between the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the public. While policy formulation and explaining by the CPC is highly formulaic and cryptic to outsiders, the Two Sessions

February 2026 Contents Pre-Two Sessions Policy Overview Competition and Market Regulation 2.1 Restrictions on Supplier Squeezing 2.2 Curbing Excess Price Competition Foreign Investment Laws 3.1 New Technology Contract Registration Rules 3.2 New 2025 Guidelines on Choosing and Registering Company Names Tax 4.1 China's New VAT Law: Key Threshold Rules and Implications for Foreign Businesses 4.2 China Steps Up Enforcement on Overseas Income Taxation Digital Space & Data Laws 5

Foreign companies are often approached by Chinese counterparts who express interest in products, services, or cooperation. Some of these approaches are genuine. Others are exploratory, opportunistic, or simply a way to add foreign credibility to an internal process. In this article, these five practical indicators may give you clues to confirm whether you are being taken seriously and help you decide whether to proceed, pause, or disengage before you leak time and know-how. •

Despite decades of international engagement, many assumptions about doing business in China remain stubbornly persistent. Some of these misconceptions are harmless oversimplifications. Others, however, can materially affect how foreign companies negotiate, hire, manage risk, and ultimately succeed, or fail. Below are five common misconceptions we frequently encounter when working with international companies, and how reality tends to differ once you move beyond first impres

January 2026 Contents E-Visa and Entry Policy Evolution: Easier Travel, More Conditional Access Data, Cybersecurity & Digital Regulations: Enforcement Overhaul Foreign Investment Laws: Balancing Self-Reliance with Foreign Capital Needs Export Control Policies: Critical Supply Chain & Dual-Use Focus As we look at 2026, several regulatory and policy trends are emerging in China that foreign companies, and those considering engagement with China, need to understand. These develo