Beijing has identified what it terms "New Quality Productive Forces" as the primary engine of growth for the 2026 to 2030 period. These sectors represent the future of China's economy and will receive priority access to funding, talent, and policy support as the nation seeks to transform its economic structure and secure its position in the global hierarchy of advanced economies. In the realm of high technology, China aims to achieve technological self-reliance through massiv

The Ministry of Finance and the State Administration of Taxation jointly issued the Announcement [2025] No. 2 on the Tax Credit Policy for Foreign Investors Utilizing Distributed Profits for Direct Investment. This Announcement stipulates the tax credit policy for foreign investors who reinvest profits distributed by Chinese resident enterprises. The core provisions are as follows. Foreign investors who utilize distributed profits from Chinese resident enterprises for qualifi

On December 25, 2024, the National People's Congress of China passed the Value-Added Tax (VAT) Law, which will come into effect on January 1, 2026. The newly enacted VAT Law largely retains the existing tax framework, including the three-tier tax rate structure: 13 per cent for general goods sales and imports, 9 per cent for certain services like transportation, telecommunications, and publishing, and 6 per cent for modern services. It also maintains the simplified 3 per cent

A new China-Italy Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement has been signed and will take effect from January 1, 2026 and introduces several more favorable amendments, especially regarding interests, dividends, and royalties paid by a company resident in one side to a company resident in the other side. In particular, the new DTA will: Reduce withholding tax on dividends paid to beneficial owner holding directly at least 25% of the capital of the company that is paying dividends th

According to data released by Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce, the country's total international trade expanded by 27 per cent year on year to USD 66.4 billion in January 2026, marking the 19th consecutive month of growth. During the first month of 2026, exports climbed 24.4 per cent year-on-year to USD 31.6 billion, while imports picked up 29.4 per cent to USD 34.9 billion, yielding a trade deficit of USD 5 billion. Key drivers of growth continued to be driven mainly by elec

According to data from Malaysia’s Department of Statistics, the country’s total international trade during the first month of 2026 recorded a growth of 12.6 per cent, with exports rose by 19.6 per cent and imports expanded by 5.3 per cent year-on-year. The robust trade performance and the export rise was mainly driven by strong demand for manufactured goods, especially electrical and electronic (E&E) products, as well as optical and scientific equipment and machinery China re