China removed a three-decade-old tax exemption on contraceptive drugs and condoms from January 1 in new steps to boost low birth rates, reports Reuters. Condoms and contraceptive pills now incur value-added tax of 13%, the standard rate for most consumer goods. The move comes as Beijing struggles to boost birth rates. China’s population fell for a […]
Category: Law & Regulation
China Vanke is once again seeking to delay the repayment of a maturing domestic bond, reports Caixin. This is the third such attempt as the embattled property developer faces intensifying liquidity pressure and dwindling state support. Vanke announced it would convene a meeting of bondholders for its “21 Vanke 02” corporate note to vote on a […]
US President Donald Trump has blocked US photonics firm HieFo Corp’s $3 million acquisition of assets in New Jersey-based aerospace and defense specialist Emcore, citing national security and China-related concerns, reports Reuters. In an order released by the White House, Trump said HieFo was “controlled by a citizen of the People’s Republic of China” and that its 2024 acquisition […]
Beijing has announced it will restore a 30-year-old tax on contraceptive drugs and condoms in a bid to cut sales of contraceptives and thereby boost birthrates. The announcement follows a recent move to waive all hospital fees for child delivery. China is struggling with a low birth rate, and despite Beijing’s best efforts to reverse […]
The US Trade Representative Office said it had determined that Beijing’s drive for dominance in the semiconductor sector is “unreasonable and discriminatory”, reports the South China Morning Post. It labelled Chinese chips as a direct threat to US commerce. In a formal notice of action filed with the Federal Register, the agency said the US is […]