Poland

MNCs in the News-2020-04-17

China’s Ministry of Commerce reported that inward foreign direct investment (FDI) plunged over the first three quarters of 2020 when compared to 2019 largely due to the effects of Covid-19. A Shanghai court ordered Chinese shoe company New Barlun to pay USD $1.41 million in damages and litigation costs for trademark infringement and unfair competition to American shoe company New Balance. Huawei responds to criticism in the United Kingdom (UK) and proposed restrictions on its involvement in the UK 5G network by noting its role in keeping Britain online and the damage done by the criticism. A British parliamentarian calls for the UK government to ensure Imagination Technology’s technology base is not moved to China. Yahoo Japan will cooperate with the Japanese government to provide data from consenting users that could help identify clusters. The Board of Investment of Thailand approves Mitsubishi Motors’ plan to improve manufacturing lines at one existing plant to allow for production of hybrids and electric vehicles. After the failure of arbitration, Netflix opts to take South Korea’s SK Broadband to court over special fees for data-heavy content that the latter wants to improve upon the former. LG Chem obtains special privileges from the Polish government enabling its employees dispatched to its electric vehicle plant there to avoid certain quarantine.

MNCs in the News-2019-09-06

On the eve of German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s visit to China, China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) reports German foreign direct investment (FDI) in China grew more than 60 percent over the first seven months of 2019 year-over-year. Chinese media delivered some packaged criticisms against FedEx for the latter’s alleged shipments of controlled goods and rerouting of packages destined for Huawei. Relatively small-scale protests took place in three Kazakhstan cities against potentially questionable Chinese factory FDI. The United States (US) concludes declaration with Poland for the rigorous evaluation of foreign suppliers involved in 5G networks which some see as directed at China and Huawei. Nissan considers leaving Korea as Korea-Japan frictions make its challenging situation there even worse. Uniqlo partners with the International Labor Organization (ILO) to support research on labor markets and social security systems in some of its production hubs in South and Southeast Asia. Korean economic difficulties due to frictions with Japan encourages Hyundai union to settle with management without a strike. Korean government official meets with LG Group and SK Group executives to try to get them to resolve trade secrets dispute that LG Chem has brought to the US International Trade Commission.

MNCs in the News-2019-07-12

Inward foreign direct investment (FDI) flows into China continue to grow, especially in the high-tech sector. Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) official states that Inward FDI (IFDI) is not leaving China en masse and that China will “protect the legitimate rights and interests of foreign investors.” Chinese outward FDI (OFDI) to Europe and North America over the first six months of 2019 shows a noticeable decrease over the same period the prior year. Despite a spying incident and Poland’s President saying he was opposed to Chinese OFDI (COFDI) in strategic infrastructure, Poland’s Foreign Minister told visiting Chinese State Councilor Wang Yi Poland is open to COFDI. Korea reacts strongly to Japanese media report in which a senior member of Japan’s Liberal Democratic party charged dual-use chemicals exported to South Korea ended up in the North. Japan is surprised at Seoul’s strong response to it instituting tighter controls on the export of certain chemicals to South Korea and Seoul making the issue a World Trade Organization (WTO) issue. Japan moving towards a formal WTO case regarding Seoul’s provision of subsidies to South Korean shipbuilders. Hyundai Engineering and Construction signs a $2.7 billion contract with Saudi Aramco for two projects relating to a massive oil and gas refining complex.

MNCs in the News-2018-09-28

China State Council meeting decides to pursue numerous measures to increase foreign direct investment (FDI) flows as well as the realization of major FDI projects. Rising United States (US)’ tariffs are driving Asian firms to leave or contemplate departing China for other places in the region. Despite pressures, China Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) official notes Chinese outward FDI (OFDI) is to be expected and Beijing will encourage firms with ‘good reputation’ and ‘strength’ to invest. Per MOFCOM the profits of Chinese companies overseas hit USD $137.8 billion in 2017, a 52 percent jump year-over-year (YOY). The Japan Overseas Infrastructure Investment Corp. for Transport & Urban Development (JOIN) and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation will invest $300 million in the $16 billion Texas high-speed rail project. Seeing shifting trade patterns due to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the US-China trade war, Japan’s Nippon Express will seek to expand its shipments on Chinese rail companies. South Korea’s Daewoo to cooperate with state-owned Korean enterprises and other firms to bid on massive nuclear power projects in the Czech Republic and Poland. South Korea and Chile look to build up their infrastructure cooperation.