CPO & Partners was pleased to attend Panda d’Oro 2026, one of the leading events of the Italian business community in China, organized by the China-Italy Chamber of Commerce. Each year, the event brings together companies, institutions and professionals committed to strengthening economic relations between Italy and China, while highlighting business excellence and fostering new [...]

Chinese Dragon Boat Festival, also known as the Duanwu Festival (端午节), is a traditional Chinese holiday that falls on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar, so the date varies each year according to the Gregorian calendar. Origins and Significance: The festival commemorates the death of the patriotic poet Qu Yuan [...]

An impactful professional Saturday in Shanghai, attending the exclusive event organised by the Italian Chamber of Commerce in China (CCIC) at The Ritz-Carlton, Lujiazui. The occasion offered us a valuable high-level opportunity to meet and exchange views directly with Enrico Letta, former Prime Minister of Italy and a leading authoritative voice on European affairs and [...]

High-Level Strategic Dialogue in Hangzhou: Day 2 of the “Foreign Enterprises Zhejiang Visit” 2026 “投资浙里” 外国企业浙江行・走进杭州 We are pleased to share that we take part in the official high-level cooperation and matchmaking conference in Hangzhou, closing the 2026 “Invest in Zhejiang” Foreign Enterprises Zhejiang Visit. The day focused on institutional dialogue, investment promotion and business [...]

After nearly 20 years, on January 27, 2026, the EU and India concluded the negotiations over their Free Trade Agreement. This is the largest deal ever for either side, covering a quarter of global GDP and 2 billion people. India will eliminate duties on 93% of EU exports, while Europe on 91% of India’s exports, [...]

CPO & Partners is proud to join the 2026 “Invest in Zhejiang” Foreign Enterprises Zhejiang Visit with the official delegation of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China. Organized by Zhejiang Provincial Government and CITIC Group, this top-tier event gathered over 230 international companies to explore advanced manufacturing, new energy, digital trade and cross‑border [...]

Recently, our team joined the exclusive on-site institutional and technical visit directly onboard the Adora Flora City at Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipyard, an important flagship result of joint Italy-China shipbuilding cooperation, organised by the Italian Chamber of Commerce in China. During the day, we attended institutional briefings, reviewed dedicated technical project presentations, analysed the dedicated 3D [...]

Labour Day - also known as International Workers’ Day or May Day - is observed worldwide to honour the social and economic achievements of workers. Happy Labour Day from all the CPO Staff!

Our team attended a briefing at the European Chamber Shanghai Office, hosted by President Jens Eskelund, focusing on the critical report Exporting Control — China’s New Strategic Strategic Toolkit. The briefing dealt with updates on the expansion of China’s export control regime, severe supply chain vulnerabilities for rare earths and critical raw materials, and the [...]

The Qingming Festival 清明节, known in English as Tomb-Sweeping Day, is a traditional Chinese holiday. As the name suggests, it is a day when Chinese families traditionally honour their ancestors by visiting their tombs to clean the gravesites, pray, and make ritual offerings. It is also customary to burn paper money, sometimes even outdoors in [...]

CPO & Partners is proud to have taken part in the “Talk over Lunch with Paolo Gentiloni”, organized by the Italian Chamber of Commerce in China (CICC) in Shanghai. Engaging directly with European Commissioner for Economy Paolo Gentiloni offered a valuable opportunity to reflect on Europe’s economic dynamics, the EU–China relationship, and the evolving landscape [...]

On December 12th, 2025, the Council of the EU agreed to accelerate the tightening measures on extra-UE low-value parcels, strategically targeting Chinese e-commerce platforms like Shein and Temu with a fixed €3 customs duty on items valued under €150, set to take effect on July 1st, 2026. 📦 The idea is to stop the growing [...]

CPO & Partners is delighted to share its active participation in the prestigious European Union Chamber of Commerce in China Site Tour at China Mobile Shanghai Industrial Research Institute and Shanghai Mobile New-Quality Productivity Exhibition Hall. 🚀 This event showcased cutting-edge innovations in 5G, AI, big data, IoT, and new-quality productivity, with demonstrations of Baidou [...]

Great Year of the Horse 2026 CPO & Partners Shanghai Office Holiday Closure Announcement CPO & Partners Shanghai will observe the Chinese New Year Holiday from Feb 15th to Feb 23th 2026.

Published 9 January 2026, Legislative Decree 30 December 2025, no. 211 enters into force 24 January 2026. Implementing Directive (EU) 2024/1226, the decree transforms administrative violations of EU restrictive measures into criminal offences with direct entity liability under Legislative Decree 231/2001. New Criminal Code offences (Articles 275-bis et seq.) target asset freezes, making funds available [...]

On December 24, 2025, China released the Catalogue of Encouraged Industries for Foreign Investment 2025, effective February 1, 2026, updating the list of sectors and activities eligible for preferential treatment, streamlined procedures, and operational advantages. Compared to the previous version, the new Catalogue shows a broader scope – with 200+ new items and 300+ revisions [...]

On December 9, 2025, Francesco Marano took part in the “Zhejiang–Shanghai Connect | Jiaxing Special Event” held in Shanghai, delivering a speech focused on foreign investment projects in China. His contribution addressed key aspects related to market entry strategies, investment pathways, and the role of tax and legal advisory in supporting cross-border operations within an [...]

A new policy notice on government procurement introduces a 20% price evaluation advantage for qualifying “Made in China” products – a move designated to strengthen domestic manufacturing while ensuring foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs) can still participate on equal footing. Key points: Domestic products meeting specific transformation and cost criteria can enjoy a 20% bid advantage. Mixed [...]

The event has successfully concluded Changzhou City - Zhonglou District, China 2030: Opportunities and Challenges of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan, hosted in Barcelona   CPO & Partners participated alongside FELIU as an internationalization partner, contributing to the discussion on the strategic directions shaping China’s market in the coming years. During his presentation, Fabio Enrico Pessina [...]

On November 13th, 2025, the European Commission agreed to eliminate the €150 customs duty relief threshold and potentially introduce “handling fees” on e-commerce packages as of 2026. Given the evolution of the e-commerce model, this exemption is no longer justified and creates unfair competition. This initiative directly addresses the sharp rise in low-value B2C parcels [...]

CBAM – Final Phase: Sustainability as Market-Access Requirement Starting January 1st, 2026, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) will enter into full force, introducing a carbon cost on imports with high embedded emissions – including aluminum, cement, electricity, fertilizers, iron and steel – to support more sustainable global trade. The New Regulation (EU) 2025/2083 launches [...]

China postpones the new export controls on Rare Earths announced on October 9th, 2025 After introducing the first export controls on 7 Rare Earths (REEs) and their derivatives on April 4th, 2025, China announced a second round of restrictions on October 9th. The new measures included export controls on an additional 5 REEs as well [...]

Opportunities and Challenges of the Chinese Market toward 2030   The event “Opportunities and Challenges of the Chinese Market toward 2030”, held yesterday at Starhotels Majestic in Turin, concluded successfully, confirming the strong interest of the Piedmont industrial ecosystem in China’s upcoming developments. The Pinghu Economic & Technological Development Zone delegation presented the evolution of [...]

CPO & Partners at CIIE 2025, Shanghai Once again this year, the CPO & Partners team attended the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai — one of the world’s key events for trade and innovation. Our team’s on-site participation as professional visitors offered valuable opportunities to connect with clients, partners, and industry peers, explore [...]

China: more open, more connected The visa-free transit policy has been expanded to 240 hours – now valid in 65 ports in 24 provinces – and extended until 31 December 2026 (was expiring on 31 December 2025) the policy of exemption from visa with possibility of entry in China Mainland without visa for a period [...]

Zilmet Jiaxing Grand Opening On October 29th, 2025, the new Zilmet Jiaxing Plant officially opened in the Jiaxing Nanhu High-Tech Zone, marking an important milestone for the Italian group UGO BENETTOLO S.p.A. and for the strengthening of industrial cooperation between Italy and China. The new facility, covering 15,000 square meters and built with a total [...]

Italy Monza Event - Industrial Park Zhaoqing The delegation of the Zhaoqing Industrial Park presented its investment opportunities at the Sporting Club in Monza, during a meeting that brought together Italian entrepreneurs and companies interested in strengthening ties with China. The event concluded with a buffet dinner, providing a valuable occasion for networking and direct [...]

Zhaoqing Delegation visiting CPO & Partners On September 23rd, 2025, the delegation of the Zhaoqing Industrial Park visited the Italian headquarters of CPO & Partners in Monza and later the ICCF office in Milan, on the occasion of the presentation of the opportunities offered by their industrial park. An important exchange fostering dialogue between Italy [...]

China Labor Compliance and High-Temperature Allowance With increasing extreme summer temperatures in China, employers must implement measures to protect employees from heat-related health risks, including both physical safeguards and compliance with high-temperature allowance regulations. High-heat labor protection is governed by national legislation and local implementation rules, which determine allowance amounts, calculation methods, and applicable months [...]

Shanghai’s Plan to Improve the Tax Refund Environment for Departing Visitors On July 3, 2025, the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce, together with five departments, launched a 2025–2027 Action Plan to upgrade its departure tax refund system. The new policy allows foreign tourists to receive VAT refunds directly in-store through the “Refund-upon-Purchase” system, replacing the [...]

China 2025–2028 Tax Credit Policy for Foreign Investors’ Reinvestment of Profits On 27 June 2025, China’s Ministry of Finance, State Taxation Administration, and Ministry of Commerce jointly issued Announcement [2025] No. 2, regarding a 10% enterprise income tax credit that can be claimed by eligible foreign investors who reinvest profits (e.g., dividends, interest, royalties or [...]

China’s new VAT Law takes effect in 2026 On 1 January 2026, China’s new VAT Law will come into effect, replacing the Provisional VAT Regulations that had governed the system since 1993. This reform brings major structural changes to China’s most important indirect tax. The law clarifies the scope of taxable transactions by consolidating goods, [...]

CPO & Partners at the ICG European & Asia Integration Meeting | Madrid, 8 July 2025 A day dedicated to international cooperation and strategic dialogue across continents. The 2nd European & Asia Integration Meeting, hosted by the International Consulting Group in Madrid, brought together professionals from Europe, Asia and Latin America to reflect on today’s [...]

CPO Visits Jiaxing with Lawyer Moschetti On 17 June 2025, representatives of CPO visited several industrial parks in the city of Jiaxing, not far from Shanghai, alongside Lawyer Giovanni Moschetti, partner of Law Firm Francesco Moschetti, tax, criminal tax and international tax experts, located in Padova (Italy) for more than 50 years. The day began with [...]

CPO at the Panda D’Oro Gala Awards – 2025 Edition On June 14th, CPO & Partners had the pleasure to attend the XIV Edition of the Panda D’Oro Gala Dinner Awards, organized by the China-Italy Chamber of Commerce (CICC) in Shanghai. The Gala represents one of the most prestigious events for the Italian business community [...]

CPO & Partners at the Asia-Pacific Business Roundtable We were glad to attend the Asia-Pacific Business Roundtable held on June 14 in Shanghai, just ahead of the Panda D'Oro Gala Awards 2025. An insightful opportunity to explore the current and future outlook of EU–China trade relations, and to connect with key players promoting Italian presence [...]

Chinese Dragon Boat Festival also known as the Duanwu Festival (端午节), is a traditional Chinese holiday that falls on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar, so the date varies each year according to the Gregorian calendar. Origins and Significance: The festival commemorates the death of the patriotic poet Qu Yuan [...]

New legislation for China’s private sector economy The Private Economy Promotion Law of the People's Republic of China was adopted by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress on 30 April 2025, and took officially effect on 20 May. The new law grants private enterprises equal legal standing and market opportunities alongside other ownership [...]

Labour Day Holiday from May 1st 2025 until May 5th 2025 Labour Day—also known as International Workers’ Day or May Day—is observed worldwide to honour the social and economic achievements of workers.

Award to CPO for Italy-China Cooperation CPO & Partners has been honored with another prestigious award, following the recent recognition received from Jiaxing Nanhu District. During the 'Invest in Shanghai - Share the Future' event held on 10 April in Milan, organized by the Lingang New Area Industrial Park located in Shanghai to promote foreign [...]

Under the nation's strong push for green and low-carbon development, Shanghai is promoting EV adoption through vehicle renewal subsidies and free NEV license plates, accelerating the transition from fuel cars to EVs.   I. Shanghai Vehicle Replacement Policies In terms of green initiatives for the replacement of old fuel vehicles, in February several Shanghai Municipal [...]

CPO & Partners was honored to participate as a guest at the 2025 Jiangsu Nantong Su-Xi-Tong Science & Technology Park Investment Promoting Conference in Shanghai. An insightful event focused on international cooperation, investment opportunities, and innovation. Grateful for the opportunity to exchange ideas and strengthen business relations between Europe and China. #CPOPartners #InternationalBusiness #Investment #China [...]

On 13 September 2024 the Standing Committee of China’s National People’s Congress approved the “Measures of the State Council on Gradually Delaying the Statutory Retirement Age”, effective from 1 January 2025. The Measures provide for a gradual increasing of the statutory retirement age in a period of 15 years: male employees and female employees in [...]

CPO & Partners was awarded the Nanhu District of Jiaxing, Excellent Partner Last 10 January 2025, a delegation of CPO Shanghai was invited to visit the complex of the People’s Government of Jiaxing City’s Nanhu District, to attend the 2025 Nanhu District Investment Promotion Conference and receive the award of Excellent Partner. On the occasion, [...]

Great Year of the Snake 2025 CPO & Partners Shanghai Office Holiday Closure Announcement CPO & Partners Shanghai will observe the Chinese New Year Holiday from January 28th to February 4th, 2025.

The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), established with the EU Regulation No. 2023/956 of 10 May 2023, is an environment protection policy aimed to put a price on the emissions generated in the production of specific goods imported into the EU. Currently in its transitional period, 1 October 2023 - 31 December 2025, the definitive [...]

Last 15 November 2024, China’s Ministry of Finance and the State Taxation Administration released the Announcement No. 15 on the Adjustment of Export Tax Rebate Policies, effective from 1 December. It is set to impact the future business planning of local and foreign companies involved in export operations from China to foreign countries, especially in [...]

On 4 December, a delegation of CPO visited Automechanika Shanghai 2024, the annual trade fair, this year at its twentieth edition, hosted at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai. The 2024 edition, held from 2 to 5 December, saw the confirmed participation of 6,763 exhibitors, including 17 pavilions dedicated to specific international countries [...]

China Visa Exemption Update: Extended Stay and New Eligible Countries From November 30, 2024, travelers from Italy and nine additional countries recently added to the list - Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia, and Japan - can visit China without a visa for up to 30 days per stay, after the extension [...]

New Italy-China Double Taxation Agreement soon in force On 5 November 2024, the Italian Chamber of Deputies approved the bill for the ratification and execution of the Double Taxation Agreement (DTA) signed in 2019 between the governments of the Italian Republic and the People’s Republic of China regarding income taxes double taxation and the prevention [...]

Yesterday, 6 November, the meeting “Shanghai and Jiaxing: a New Opportunity” was held as part of the CIIE currently underway in Shanghai at the National Exhibition and Convention Center, a new opportunity for exchange and dialogue between entities linked by common views. Sponsored by Nanhu District, located in the Chinese city of Jiaxing, China-Italy Chamber [...]

Despite the ongoing conflicts over state subsidies and other trade-related issues between the European Union and the People’s Republic of China, in 2024 Beijing proved his willingness to foster and improve its trade relations with many European countries. Among them, Spain has been active in recent years towards strengthening the bilateral exchanges with China, as [...]

Join Us at CIIE 2024 in Shanghai! We are pleased to inform you that CPO & Partners will be attending the China International Import Expo (CIIE) from November 5th to 10th, 2024, at the National Exhibition and Convention Center, Shanghai. As one of the largest import expos in the world, CIIE provides a unique platform [...]

On 8 September, the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) of the People’s Republic of China published the Circular No. 568, concerning the establishment of Wholly Foreign-Owned hospitals in selected pilot cities, namely Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Nanjing, Suzhou, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and the island of Hainan. This move represents a further development in the process of opening [...]

From September 20 to 22, 2024, the COOL CAR SHOW is taking place in Hangzhou, a major exhibition focused on the automotive sector, with an emphasis on car customization, electronic components, and vehicle accessories. The event hosts over 60,000 visitors and 1,000 selected exhibitors, creating the perfect environment to explore automotive innovations. Among the exhibitors, [...]

Mid-Autumn Festival, Zhongqiu Jie (中秋节) in Chinese, is also called the Mooncake Festival or the Moon Festival. It was a ceremony during which people worshipped the moon, as a way to give thanks for the harvest and to encourage the "harvest-giving light" to return in the coming year. Today, it is still an occasion for [...]

2024 Shanghai Book Fair The 2024 edition of the Shanghai Book Fair, one of the most important yearly book fairs in Mainland China, organized since 2004, is being held from 14 to 20 August in the heart of Shanghai, hosted again this year at the Shanghai Exhibition Center, the venue of numerous prestigious international and [...]

China Visa exemption for Italian citizens – No limitations for multiple entries Regarding the visa exemption for Italian citizens who travel to China for 15 days, valid until 31 December 2025, considering the importance of the policy for those who plan to visit the country for the reasons covered by the exemption, i.e. business, tourism, [...]

Negociaciones entre China y Perú para un Tratado que evite la doble tributación A finales de mayo, el ministro peruano de Economía y Finanzas, José Arista, comunicó la noticia de que Perú y China habían concluido la primera ronda de negociaciones para suscribir un tratado destinado a evitar la doble tributación y prevenir la evasión [...]

The Shanghai Municipality promotes an action plan to facilitate payments for foreigners The General Office of Shanghai Municipality has released the "Shanghai Action Plan to Further Improve Payment Convenience", aiming to streamline payment procedures for foreign visitors coming to China. The expected objectives will concern the following areas: - Wider acceptance of foreign bank cards [...]

Update of the double taxation Agreement between the Italian and Chinese governments On 15 April 2024 the Council of Ministers, upon the proposal of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, approved a bill for the ratification and execution of a previous Agreement stipulated with the government of the People’s Republic of [...]

The business regulatory environment in China is in constant evolution, prompting local administrations to understand, manage, and carry out the new regulations issued at the national and provincial level, a task that can be burdensome due to the complexity of the matters involved. Recently, the Shanghai Municipality issued the «Shanghai Action Plan to Adhere to [...]

On January 26th, CPO & Partners had the privilege of engaging in a series of productive meetings with government officials in Jiaxing, China. The discussions centered on the diverse investment opportunities available in the region, highlighting Jiaxing's commitment to fostering a conducive environment in Jiaxing for international business collaborations. The visit was further enriched by [...]

CPO & Partners Shanghai Office Holiday Closure Announcement CPO & Partners Shanghai will observe the Chinese New Year Holiday from February 10th to February 17th, 2024.

With the entry into force of the new Chinese Company Law on December 29, 2023, an important change has been introduced to the regulation of limited liability companies regarding the registered Capital. Specifically, companies established after the enforcement of the new Company Law (July 1, 2024) must pay their share capital within 5 years from [...]