Hot Topics for MNCs, Cool Analysis*

January 8th, 2019
Foreign companies remain cautious about increasing their foreign direct investment (FDI) in China because of the risk of trade war escalation. Multinational corporations (MNCs) in China worry not only about trade war’s impact on sales, but pressures to relocate their factories. China’s National People’s Congress reviews draft law than seems to more aggressively protect foreign investor interests than a previous version. Survey reveals US businesses finding trade war leading them to face increased Chinese non-tariff barriers. China’s State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission and the Chinese Academy of Social Science have produced a report that central State-owned enterprises (SOEs) are delivering equal employment benefits to Chinese and locals. Attorneys representing former South Korean forced laborers for Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal file for the seizure of Nippon Steel assets in Korea. South Korean government will tighten rules on the acquisition of Korean companies by foreign firms to limit technology leaks. Seoul to designate OLED equipment and chemical sector as “national core technologies” to gain influence over their sale and export.
December 18th, 2018
Inward foreign direct investment (FDI) into China for the first 11 months of 2018 year-over-year relatively stable. Beijing stops requiring its local governments to support the Made in China 2025 policy. European Union Ambassador to China calls on China to stop requiring companies to transfer technology for market access. Apple considers moving some production out of China due to possibility of increased tariffs on its China-produced smartphones and laptops. 2018 proves a tough year for Chinese outward FDI (OFDI) in the oil sector. Huawei accepts various UK technical requirements “to address risks in its equipment and software.” Following a Japanese government’s decision that effectively excluded China’s Huawei Technologies Co. and ZTE Corp. from public procurement, Japan’s three major mobile phone carriers Softbank Corp., NTT Docomo Inc., and KDDI Corp. plan to stop using various products from these companies. Japanese expert panel calls on Tokyo to take measures to protect the usage of consumer data. Korea Electric Power Corp. report on Northeast Asia power grid notes it would face serious challenges because of sanctions on North Korea. Beginning July 2019, Korea will impose a value-added tax on a wider range of services provided by global technology giants to level the playing field for Korean firms.
December 9th, 2018
China says will lift all barriers to foreign direct investment (FDI) not included on the negative list and launch a special inspection to ensure foreign investors are treated fairly. China is advancing its promise to open its financial sector as evidenced by its approval of Swiss UBS Group’s control of a local joint venture (JV). Tesla has opened the bidding to build its “gigafactory” in Shanghai that will help it avoid Chinese tariffs on imported US-built cars. Sensitive to rising national security concerns, British telecom firm BT Group has blocked Huawei from supplying equipment for its core 5G technology. Diverging from other countries, Portugal allowed its major network provider to sign a contract with Huawei. Japan and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. are contemplating abandoning a nuclear project in Turkey due to ballooning costs. Tokyo will issue guidelines for the acquisition of telecommunications equipment by central government ministries and the Self-Defense Forces that implicitly relate to Chinese makers. South Korean and Chinese officials hold investment promotion meeting in Beijing to seek ways to lower trade barriers and boost bilateral investment. Korean delegations makes urgent visit to the United Arab Emirates to dispel worries of Korea’s possible loss of the exclusive right to operate the Barakah nuclear power plant.
December 1st, 2018
China moving to improve the business environment for foreign companies, especially in Free Trade Zones (FTZs). China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) announces that it will permit foreign banks in China to apply for approval for a quota increase in their medium to long-term foreign debt for 2019. Per Donald Trump, the United States may take a bite out of Apple products coming from China which previously have escaped a special 10 percent tariffs on Chinese goods. China’ Huawei finds Kiwis not so soft after New Zealand’s intelligence agency blocks it supplying 5G mobile network equipment to the major domestic telecom provider. Maldives’ new finance minister criticizes true price of Chinese projects, which has led to the Maldives returning to an “India First” policy. Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries ordered by South Korea’s Supreme Court to pay USD $365,500 in damages to two groups of South Koreans for forced wartime labor. In post-Carlos Ghosn arrest meeting, France suggests to Japanese official “the head of the Renault-Nissan alliance should be from the French automaker.” European firms with business in South Korea push Seoul to upgrade the country’s business regulations to reach international standards. At the 6th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Connectivity Forum, South Korea’s secretary-general of the ASEAN-Korea Centre states Korea is looking to improve relations with ASEAN countries especially in infrastructure area.
November 26th, 2018
China working to improve opportunities for foreign players in its insurance sector. Shanghai looks to improve services for foreign companies which have a major presence in the city and are a major contributor to its economic successes. European Union moves forward on inward foreign direct investment (FDI) screening mechanism that is not directed at, but has a lot to do with China. Pursuant to Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act (FIRRMA) the United States (US) Committee on Foreign Investment in the US (CFIUS) will now screen much smaller deals in various sectors newly deemed critical, greatly affecting Chinese deals. Philippines’ President Rodrigo Duterte’s move towards China does not seem to have paid off in terms of increased Chinese outward FDI (OFDI) and infrastructure in the Philippines. US prosecutors investigating Mitsubishi UFJ (MUFJ) for potentially allowing North Korea to launder money. To push forward infrastructure projects, Japanese Prime Minister advisor meets with Filipino officials soon after visit of Chinese President. South Korean manufacturers turn attention from China to Vietnam which offers a better policy, tax, and labor cost environment. South Korea’s POSCO Engineering & Construction Co.-led consortium wins major power plant contract in Malaysia.
November 20th, 2018
China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) reported October inward foreign direct investment (FDI) flows reflected a 7.3 percent rise over the previous year. MOFCOM looks to aid Chinese private companies invest overseas albeit in an “orderly,” guided way. German officials are pressing their government to hang up on Chinese corporate participation in the country’s early 2019 5G spectrum auction. American Enterprise Institute report suggests Belt and Road Initiative investment by Chinese companies is losing steam. Tokyo reassures Japanese businesses of its opposition to any actions requiring Japanese companies to pay compensation to forced laborers, saying the matter was settled in 1965. Japan succeeds in getting member countries of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum to adopt new guidelines relating to the quality of infrastructure development and investment. Korean price rigging conspiracy at US military bases in Korea fuels massive USD $200 million in criminal and civil penalties. South Korean legislatures considers broadened value-added tax on global information and communication technology companies to create a level playing field for Korean firms.
November 14th, 2018
The head of China’s State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission recently announced China welcomes foreign direct investment (FDI) in China’s state-owned enterprises (SOEs). At World Internet Conference, China restates its familiar call for “cyberspace sovereignty,” but most focused on absences of key Chinese political leaders and high-level business representatives. Lego scores another victory in China in its efforts to protect its intellectual property rights (IPR). Australia blocks Hong Kong CK Group’s USD $9.4 billion bid for APA Group gas pipeline operator due to national security concerns. In the wake of Australia’s recent rejection of CK’s acquisition APA group, its foreign minister went to Beijing to reaffirm Australian’s receptivity toward Chinese inward FDI (IFDI). Brexit and United Kingdom (UK) FDI review reforms have raised Chinese anxieties about potentially adverse implications for its FDI in UK leading UK to state it intends to continue welcoming Chinese IFDI. Despite growing criticism over its passivity regarding the Rohingya issue, Japan continues to support Myanmar infrastructure development, fearing isolation will only drive Naypyidaw towards Beijing. Japan bolsters its investment and infrastructure corporation with the Philippines while elevating strategic partnership. Korea has denied Tokyo’s World Trade Organization filing that it breached international trade rules by providing subsidies to Korean shipbuilders.
November 7th, 2018
Shanghai moves to make life easier for foreign direct investment (FDI) as anxieties grow that FDI may leave. Germany’s Federation of Germany Industries’ position paper calls for German businesses in China to limit their dependence on China. Australia’s exclusion of firms with government ties from its new 5G network mean no involvement by Huawei, leading to Chinese government criticisms. Chile signs on to China’s Belt and Road Initiative. During an official meeting between Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, Tokyo pledged USD $2.8 billion in new loans for seven projects in India including the construction of a high-speed shinkansen system and roads. Recent South Korea Supreme Court ruling that Japan’s Nippon Steel must pay compensation to Korean World War II forced laborers leaves roughly 70 Japanese firms facing similar cases on edge. Samsung pledges to increase its contribution to Vietnam while Vietnam pledges to keep improving business environment for the firm.
October 30th, 2018
China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) says the country will accelerate its efforts to pass a new foreign direct investment (FDI) law that promotes and protects FDI. China’s Supreme People’s Court plans to act to improve the intellectual property rights protection system in China. Following Apple, Amazon and Super Micro call on Bloomberg to retract its story about Super Micro hardware hacked by Chinese intelligence agencies. United States (US) asset sellers and brokers turn away from Chinese buyers because of the delays and uncertainties that arise when Chinese companies are involved in FDI in the US. Multinationals contemplate moving supply chains out of China if the impact of US tariffs on China becomes too severe. Despite his close links with Saudi Arabia, Masayoshi Son cancels his speech at the Future Investment Initiative after Saudi Arabia admits the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. US Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States torpedoes sale of Japanese Italian subsidiary to a Chinese firm on unclear grounds. Fears of the adverse economic impact of the US-China trade war, US rate hikes, and rising oil prices spur Seoul to announce economic package to fuel jobs and investment. Korean builder Dealim Industrial wins major engineering, procurement, and construction ammonia plant deal in Saudi Arabia.
October 22nd, 2018
Google defends its development of a censored search engine for China saying most queries will succeed. Exxon’s foreign direct investment (FDI) in liquid natural gas (LNG) facilities in Papua New Guinea and Mozambique will allow it to sidestep the barriers emanating from Chinese taxes on United States LNG. Consultancy asserts that regardless of the bad news about plummeting Chinese outward FDI the good news is that Chinese OFDI is being more sophisticated and culturally skilled. Tokyo will work to support FDI in heirless businesses to ensure they do not close. Japanese logistics firms look to partner with Chinese ones to avoid political risks, expedite shipments, and profit from subsidies. South Korea’s Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries will carry out a feasibility study about developing Russia’s Slavyanka port. South Korea is enhancing its efforts to support Korean firms in winning project orders from the United Arab Emirates and Vietnam.

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