Blog
Practical insights on doing business in China — sourcing, inspection, and local support.
CSCSE Degree Verification for China Work Permits: How It Actually Works in 2026
Getting a foreign degree recognized for a China work permit isn't a matter of submitting a scanned diploma — it requires the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange to contact your university directly and receive a reply confirming the degree is real. Here's how that process actually works, and where it commonly stalls.
China's September 2026 Exit-Entry Regulation: What Actually Changes for Visa Extensions and Business Travel
China's most significant update to its exit-entry framework since 2013 takes effect September 15, 2026, introducing longer entry bans for false information and new scrutiny on visa intermediaries. For anyone with a visa extension, business trip, or entry pending around that date, understanding what actually changes — and what doesn't — matters more than the headlines suggest.
Low MOQ China Suppliers: What "No Minimum" Actually Means and What It Costs
Low or no-minimum suppliers are genuinely more common in 2026 than they used to be — but a supplier advertising an unusually low MOQ deserves a specific, different kind of scrutiny than one quoting a standard industry minimum. Here's what a low MOQ claim can mean, and what it costs even when it's genuine.
Registered Capital of Chinese Suppliers: What the Number Actually Confirms
A Chinese supplier's registered capital shows up prominently on their business registration, and it's tempting to read it as a straightforward measure of financial substance. Since China's 2014 reform, that number is a commitment, not necessarily money the company actually has. Here's what registered capital actually confirms, and what it doesn't.
NDA vs NNN Agreement for China Suppliers: The Difference That Actually Matters
Buyers who ask a Chinese factory to sign an NDA before sharing product designs often assume that box is checked. In practice, a standard NDA addresses a risk that isn't usually the one that hurts — a factory quietly using your design to make a competing product rarely counts as "disclosure" in the way an NDA defines it. Here's the specific gap, and why it matters before you share anything.
When a Chinese Factory Cites "Security Regulations" to Refuse Inspection: Real Limitation or Convenient Excuse
China's April 2026 supply chain security regulation genuinely does limit what data buyers can request from suppliers — which makes it a convenient, plausible-sounding excuse for a supplier who has an entirely different reason to refuse an inspection. Here's how to tell whether a cited regulation is the real reason, or a cover for something else.
Fake Buyer Crowds at China Trade Shows: Why "Busy" Doesn't Mean Legitimate
A June 2026 incident at a Shenzhen trade fair, where exhibitors alleged organizers hired people to pose as foreign buyers, is a useful reminder for anyone evaluating a supplier partly based on how busy their booth looks. Crowd size and apparent buyer interest at a trade show are not reliable signals of a supplier's real standing — here's what actually is.
The China Domain Registration Scam Email: Why It Shows Up Right After You Contact a Supplier
Almost anyone who's done business with a Chinese supplier eventually gets this email: an urgent notice claiming another company is trying to register your name as a Chinese domain, asking you to confirm or pay to protect it. It's not a coincidence, and it's not a real risk — it's a recognizable, recurring scam that specifically targets buyers right after they engage with China.
AI Translation vs Human Interpreter: Where the Line Actually Sits for China Negotiations
AI translation tools have gotten good enough that using one for a routine WeChat call with a factory sales contact is a completely reasonable choice in 2026. The mistake is using the same tool for the specific moments where a mistranslated word changes what you're legally agreeing to. Here's where the line actually sits.
Why Pre-Shipment Inspections Miss Problems: It's Often the Checklist, Not the Factory
It's easy to assume a failed pre-shipment inspection means the factory did something wrong. Often, the real gap is upstream — a checklist that was never specific enough to catch the problem in the first place. Here's what buyer-side preparation actually needs to look like for an inspection to do its job.