This month’s China Briefing cover art could not be more apt, as it shows the famous Chinese seafarer Zheng He, trading Chinese goods with the West (the image appears to be set in what is now Istanbul). Considering this painting shows him as a young man, the time frame would be around the year 1400 – well over 600 years ago. Yet even today, international trade with China continues to fascinate. As China’s domestic wealth and disposable income increases, so do the opportunities for international businesses to sell to China. What was a relatively poor country 20 years ago, possessing a young and eager workforce, yet little purchasing power, has matured to become today the world’s largest trading nation. In this issue of China Briefing, we focus on the minutiae of trading with China – regardless of whether your business has a presence in the country or not. Of special interest to the global small and medium-sized enterprises, this issue explains in detail the licensing framework concerning trading with the most populous nation on Earth – plus the inevitable tax, customs and administrative matters that go with this. China is about to become a dynamic and vital market for international businesses globally, and here we show you the protocols. For businesses whose trade with China requires a more permanent in-country presence, we conclude the issue with an examination of establishing a trading company in China – allowing you to possess your own import and export licenses as a foreign business. We hope this issue of China Briefing will sow the seeds of imagination for smaller businesses wishing to participate in, sell to, and trade with what is fast becoming one of the most important consumer markets in the world. In this issue: China’s Import and Export Licensing Framework Import-Export Taxes and Duties Establishing a Trading Company (FICE) in China Global Exports to China