Archive of Category: Foreign Relations

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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...

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...

The Return to China Pt 1: 4 Tips Business Travelers Must Know When Traveling to China

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If your business relies on China sourcing, there’s a good chance you’ve waited more than three years for an in-person visit and this has affected your supply chain management in China. Now, the time has come. China has eased its travel restrictions and has ended its zero-Covid policy – but...

“Made In China” Pt 1: Quality & Perception when China Sourcing

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In August 2010, the Wall Street Journal reported on a “$30 million Glass Pavilion [built as] a symbol of America’s ‘Glass City’” in 2006 in Toledo, Ohio. However, this monument, meant to celebrate the city’s great manufacturing past of quality glass, actually was built using glass sourced from China. The...

First Impressions: The Rise of Commercial Western Influence in China

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The beauty, cuisine, and the sheer size of the homogenous population in Beijing have left many tourists blown away by its dissimilarity to the Western world. Prior to my arrival in Beijing, I had heard so many examples of these differences and perhaps it was the ultra-alertness and expectations I...

First Impressions: A German Tsingtao Beer

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Tsingtao is the brand name of one of the most popular beers that China can offer. Tsingtao beer is currently produced in Qingdao and is exported to more than 50 countries, including Germany. As you may know, Germany holds the reputation of being one of the premier beer countries in...

The Price of Blue Skies – Is the EU Emissions Scheme Inviting a Trade War?

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On January 1, the EU extended its ETS (Emissions Trading Scheme) to the aviation sector. It requires all airlines transiting or operating from or to a European airport to buy pollution permits in accordance to their actual level of pollution. The ETS is a crucial tool for the EU to...

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