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 opportunities for cooperation.

For us, participating in initiatives of this kind means continuing to strengthen our dialogue with the international business community, sharing experiences and contributing to the development of economic ties between Europe and Asia.

For more than 20 years, we have been supporting companies and investors throughout their growth journey in China and across the Asia-Pacific region, helping them navigate both challenges and opportunities in rapidly evolving markets.

Our thanks go to the organizers and to all the entrepreneurs, professionals and institutional representatives we had the pleasure of meeting during the evening.

We look forward to supporting new clients and new international growth projects in the years ahead.

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 global cooperation.

The engaging debate delivered profound, future-oriented perspectives on multilateralism, international diplomacy, bilateral relations and key global economic and political challenges, marking a precious moment of professional growth and strategic reflection for our team.

For CPO & PARTNERS, exclusive events of this level are core strategic assets for the firm’s international growth and market differentiation. They allow us to establish ourselves as a leading authoritative player within European, Italian and Chinese economic relations, access top-tier institutional debates, anticipate key geopolitical and regulatory shifts, and strengthen our distinctive cross-border advisory expertise. These high-profile institutional encounters reinforce our global credibility, unlock premium strategic partnership opportunities, and enable us to deliver our clients with forward-looking analysis, exclusive market vision and a privileged institutional network across the Italian, European and Chinese markets.

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 networking, highlighting Zhejiang’s high-quality development goals, opening-up policies and key industrial sectors. The event hosted more than 230 global companies, with key speeches delivered by Mr. Wang Hao, Secretary of Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee, and Mr. Xi Guohua, Chairman of CITIC Group. The main session was moderated by Mr. Liu Jie, Governor of Zhejiang Province.

A highlight was the roundtable discussion on investment incentives and new opportunities for foreign businesses across advanced manufacturing, digital economy, new energy and cross-border e-commerce.

Why this summit matters for CPO & Partners As a leading Italy‑China cross-border legal & tax advisory firm, this high-level conference allowed us to:

✅ Strengthen connections with Zhejiang provincial authorities

✅ Collect first-hand updates on policies and regulations

✅ Network with major regional enterprises and global investors

✅ Better support European and Italian clients investing in the region

Zhejiang stands out as a strategic hub for international trade and investment, with great potential for long-term cooperation between Italy, Europe and China. We aim to turn these exchanges into solid joint projects.

Thank you to the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Commerce, CITIC Group and the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China.

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, saving EU companies €4 billion annually and potentially doubling EU exports to India by 2032.

Key gains

• EU: benefits for agri-food (tariffs on wine and spirits down from 150% to 75%, and then to 40%), automotive parts (duties will gradually fall from 110% to 10%), machinery, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices.
• India: improved access for textiles, footwear, pharma, and fisheries.

Thanks to the modern rules of origin and bilateral cumulation, EU firms will be able to build integrated EU-India supply chains while accessing zero tariffs.

India is also opening its services market:

• 100% FDI in insurance and 74% in banking
• A dedicated framework for EU banks to open up to 15 branches over 4 years
• Better access for financial, telecom and maritime services

The FTA provides a crucial framework that transforms India into a potential long-term operating hub in Asia. Its official enforcement is expected for early 2027: it is now in the legal scrubbing phase, EU Parliament consent, and Indian ratification will follow.

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 investment.

Our delegation visited Jinhua’s key hubs:

• East China International Intermodal Port
• Zhejiang Panshi Dynamics Technology Co., Ltd.
• Leapmotor Automobile Co., Ltd.
• Yiwu Global Digital Trade Center

A highlight was the high‑level meeting with Mr. Zhang Jian, Mayor of Jinhua, and Ms. Huang Hui, Vice Mayor, focused on investment policies and opportunities for European and Italian enterprises.

For CPO & Partners – a leading Italy‑China legal & tax advisory firm with 18+ years of experience – this mission strengthens our role as a trusted bridge between international businesses and China.

We enhance institutional relations, gain first‑hand policy insights, expand our industrial network, and deliver tailored support to clients investing in Zhejiang.

We remain committed to win‑win cooperation between Italy, Europe and Zhejiang.

Thank you to Zhejiang Provincial Department of Commerce, CITIC Group and the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China.

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 project models, and exchanged direct insights with key industry managers and operators working daily on this high-value industrial project. The initiative offered a clear, first-hand overview of concrete joint workflows, operational industrial collaboration standards and large-scale project development practices within the international cruise shipbuilding sector.

For CPO & Partners, these regular field activities strengthen our daily advisory capabilities across all industries. They allow our international team of lawyers, tax advisors and corporate consultants to support companies with solid, updated, on‑the‑ground insights for market entry, regulatory compliance, corporate structuring and bilateral business development between Italy and China.

We keep building reliable connections, working synergy and practical knowledge to deliver concrete, tailored consultancy to all our clients operating across every industrial and commercial sector between Europe and China.

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 operational risks tied to new extraterritorial controls effective November 2026. The closed-door session outlined the future direction of China’s trade policy tools and practical risk mitigation strategies for European firms managing international supply chains.

CPO & Partners put strong attention on the expertise of its personnel and events like this deliver important information and updates. It is very important to listen, understand and evaluate messages of institutions like the European Chamber through its leadership, capture real-time policy intelligence, and integrate such insights into advisory services. This allows us to provide clients with precise, forward-looking support on cross-border trade compliance, critical supply chain optimization, and geopolitical risk management.

Amid rising trade tensions, we continuously monitor China-EU regulatory shifts, turning complex export control challenges into clear, safe, and executable operational roadmaps for our partners.

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 for Italian enterprises operating internationally.

Moments like these are essential to strengthening the dialogue between European institutions and the business community, while allowing us to provide our clients with strategic insights into global economic developments.

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 wave of cheap goods that enter Europe without customs duties, putting local businesses at a disadvantage. However, a recent unilateral action by Italy serves as a warning of potential unintended consequences.

On January 1st, 2026, Italy introduced a €2 tax on parcels valued below €150 arriving from non-EU countries. The result was immediate: e-commerce companies simply rerouted shipments through Poland, Germany, and other EU member states. Hence, Italian logistics hubs might lose substantial revenues, while consumers continue receiving the same products with minimal delay.

⚠️ The Italian experience underscores a critical vulnerability in the EU’s new plan. Without a perfectly synchronized and harmonized enforcement strategy across all 27 member states, the €3 duty risks becoming a mere redirect, rather than a reduction, of the Chinese e-commerce volume. The measure is a first step toward fair competition, but its success depends on unified implementation.

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 Satellite guidance, drone navigation, and smart transportation.

🎤 Keynotes on cross-border compliance, cloud-network integration, and data pathways by China Mobile experts provided invaluable insights for Sino-European digital collaboration.

🤝 Our presence underscores our commitment to bridging Italy-China business, leveraging nearly 20 years in Shanghai to explore compliant digital infrastructure opportunities for our clients.