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One notable phrase in the popular "Game of Thrones" franchise is, "winter is coming." The Stark family motto is as much a warning to be vigilant as it is a pragmatic forecast of seasonal change. In the wake of a weekend announcement that China's Communist Party is...

The stream of China visits by Western world leaders is good for the news business. Nearly every one generates big headlines about inked trade deals. In recent weeks, leaders from Britain and France have both visited China. And after each, the leaders announced...

If you watch a crime drama on television, occasionally you'll hear prosecutors and police talk about finding a "friendly" judge who will give them the warrant they need to advance their case. Lawyers on the defense side might do something similar. Such venue shopping...

On paper, China is a signatory to several international treaties intended to facilitate access to justice when commercial disputes arise and trigger business litigation. Those experienced in the process, though, will confirm that resolving such disputes is not a...

Have you heard the term "culture shock?" Canadian-born anthropologist Kalervo Oberg is credited with coining the term to describe the "anxiety that results from losing all our familiar signs and symbols of social intercourse." Such shock can be experienced in everyday...

As we have noted in many of our previous posts, doing business in China can be very lucrative. However, it is not the same as doing business in the United States and understanding the many factors that make it different is essential to being able to succeed. As in...

If you feel there is a lot of conflicting information about the pros and cons of doing business in China, you are not alone. There's good reason for the perception, as we have noted in previous posts. However, the fact of apparent inconsistencies doesn't mean that...

You may have heard the expression “fake it till you make it.” The reverse seems to hold true in China. Counterfeiting has become the proverbial scarlet letter of the country. Chinese president Xi Jinping has announced an effort to aggressively combat...

Veteran U.S. business operatives in China know there can be unique challenges in trying to grow and thrive in that market. Previous posts here have highlighted difficulties presented by the innate cultural and legal system differences between the two countries. At the...

Cultural diversity is a reality of the business world today. Global trade is happening at a faster clip than ever before. With diversity in trade comes a variety in legal processes from country to country. Many in the United States have a concept of how the law works...