Archive of Category: Foreign Relations

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Worried About Trump Tariffs? So Are Your Competitors

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With President-elect Donald Trump proposing across-the-board tariffs of 10% on all imports and 60% on Chinese imports, U.S. businesses are bracing for significant changes in their sourcing and supply chains. These tariffs aim to boost domestic manufacturing and reduce reliance on China. However, historical evidence and expert analyses suggest such...

Understanding the De Minimis Loophole: Who Benefits, Who Loses

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The de minimis loophole has been mentioned frequently in the media lately, and the Biden administration is about to make changes to it. This is an interesting topic. Do you know exactly what it means? In this article, I’ll outline what the terms mean, the origins of this loophole, and...

Nightmarish Tales of China Sourcing: Time, Money, and Toy Dolls Gone Rogue

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Once upon a time, in a world where every product seemed to bear the tag “Made in China,” there existed a treasure trove of China-sourcing horror stories. These stories will make you cringe, shrink, and pity the companies involved. From recalls that threatened global giants to rogue toy dolls in...

China Sourcing Alternatives: Is it time to move?

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Given the current climate surrounding China, various factors have caused importers to ask if sourcing from China is still the right choice for their supply chain. Uncertainty due to tariffs/Trade war, rising labor costs and COVID-19 have sparked a lot of concerns. Is it time to search for China sourcing...

Buy Direct from China vs US

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American-made vs China-bought has been a hot topic as of late. With the recent political climate, the trade war, and tariffs, more and more importers are looking to move their supply chain management in China home. But is that really in their best interest? Should importers buy direct from China...

The Evolution of IP Protection in China

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China has been heavy in the media lately, mostly because of the US-China Trade War. However, a recent article from the Economist’s Schumpeter blog caught our eye. In the midst of all the news on tariffs, this article, Chinese Firms are not all serial intellectual-property thieves, actually highlights some of...

The Return to China Pt 2: 8 Tips for a Great Sourcing Trip 

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In our last travel blog, The Return to China Pt 1, we covered how to carefully plan and prepare a trip to China for a factory visit or a trade fair. And, due to the complexities and challenges of such a grueling international trip, many companies are choosing not to...

“Made In China” Pt 4: Improving the Standards and Quality

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Previously, we wrote about how sourcing from China got its reputation for poor quality. This week’s blog discusses how a series of consumer product recalls actually led to improving the standards of supply chain management in China. As our last blog in this series indicated, the notion that goods made...

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