Mr. & Mrs. S.H. Wong Center for the Study of Multinational Corporations

Dr. Jean-Marc F. Blanchard's picture

Getting High on China: The High Cost of Low-Priced Drugs for Pharma Firms?

Recently, foreign pharmaceutical makers such as AbbVie, AstraZeneca, Novartis, Sanofi, and Roche slashed the prices of a large number of drugs sold in China, the world’s second largest drug market.

MNCs in the News-2019-11-22

China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) issues new negative list for market access. Despite trade war with United States (US) and slowing economic growth, China witnesses solid inward foreign direct investment (FDI) flows for 1st 10th months of 2019. FDI in China’s insurance sector shows notable developments in 2019. All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese encourages overseas Chinese businesspeople to get involvement in China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Japan’s Diet passes new investment law that tighten review criteria for inward FDI. Japanese firms may not see worse repercussions from Japan-South Korea political frictions. South Korea Fair Trade Commission (FTC) to create special task force to examine potential unfair business practices by domestic and foreign technology companies. Korea will leverage Korea-ASEAN 2019 Smart City Fair to promote Korean business involvement in smart city development.

MNCs in the News-2019-11-15

According to a German Chamber of Commerce survey, a large percentage of German companies plan on boosting their foreign direct investment (FDI) in China over the next two years. The United States (US)–China trade war and rising costs in China unlikely to led to exodus of FDI outside China because no country possesses the entire package of advantages China does. China MOFCOM reports that China’s non-financial outward FDI (OFDI) grew almost 6 percent over the first 10 months of 2019 year-over-year. US National Defense Authorization Act language may terminate the availability of federal funds to buy electric buses made by BYD at its California factory. South Korean airlines are closing offices in Japan as well as suspending or reducing flights to Japan because of falling tourism resulting from Korea-Japan tensions. Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh calls on the latter to provide economic incentives and improve policy stability. LG Chem asks the US International Trade Commission to rule quickly on its trade secrets theft case against SK Innovation. Hyundai Heavy Industries submits formal request to European Union (EU) asking for approval of its planned merger Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering

MNCs in the News-2019-11-08

China’s Ministry of Justice promulgates draft implementation rules for the country’s new foreign direct investment (FDI) law which contains a lot of positive news regarding intellectual property rights (IPR) and trade secrets. China rejects European Chamber of Commerce claims about the possibility of “promise fatigue.” China’s State Council issues 20 opinions with a strong emphasis on breaking down foreign entry and operating barriers in the banking, securities, and fund management sectors. Consultancy reports that China’s mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity jumped in 3rd quarter of 2019 versus 2nd, though it remained far under the highs of 2014. Japan’s Fair Trade Commission survey points out a number of internet giant practices that may violate the country’s anti-monopoly law. The United Kingdom’s Brexit is affecting an increasing amount of Japanese there such as by forcing them to develop alternative supply chains. China’s move to end subsidy programs for electric vehicles may give South Korean companies in China new business opportunities. South Korea’s Alliex partners with Vietnam’s Central on cashless payment system in Korea.

Dr. Jean-Marc F. Blanchard's picture

No Promise Left Behind: The Effort to Court EU FDI through a China-EU BIT

China and the European Union (EU) have been discussing a bilateral investment treaty (BIT) for a long time. Indeed, the two sides held their 21st round of China-EU BIT negotiations in June 2019.

MNCs in the News-2019-11-01

Chinese Vice Minister promises better treatment and protections for foreign direct investment (FDI), no forced tech transfers, and more rapid opening of financial sector. United States (US) contemplates new methods for increasing China’s protection of US intellectual property (IP) such as blacklisting repeat IP right violators. Chinese Ambassador in Malaysia stresses the needs for Chinese companies to deliver the goods as well as respect local laws and customs. Massive Laos high-speed rail project has many problems and multiple critics, but likely to continue given country’s desire to surmount its landlocked status. Japan’s Finance Ministry works to counter anxieties about Japan’s new FDI review regime by, among other things, providing more specifics. Toyota breaks with Honda about backing California’s new automobile emissions standards. Executives at Samsung Electronics and Samsung BioLogics faced serious accounting fraud charges relating to the revaluation of a stake in a US joint venture. Rising number of Korean firms in China report that they are increasingly affected by US-trade war.

Executive Director Jean-Marc F. Blanchard speaks at EU-China Roundtable on “The Business of Trade, Investment, and Global Politics.”

Dr. Jean-Marc F. Blanchard, Executive Director of the Mr. & Mrs. S.H. Wong Center for the Study of Multinational Corporations, participated in a EU-China Roundtable on “The Business of Trade, Investment, and Global Politics” organized by the University of Pittsburgh Asian Studies and European Studies Centers. At the Roundtable in Pittsburgh, held on October 24, Dr.

Executive Director Jean-Marc F. Blanchard presents paper on China-India Relations in the Context of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) at Seminar on “The Future of Sino-Indian Relations”

Dr. Jean-Marc F. Blanchard, Executive Director of the Mr. & Mrs. S.H. Wong Center for the Study of Multinational Corporations, presented a paper on China-India Relations in the Context of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) at a seminar on “The Future of Sino-Indian Relations: Problems and Prospects” held at Heidelberg University, Germany in mid-October 2019. Dr.

MNCs in the News-2019-10-25

China’s draft implementing foreign direct investment (FDI) law regulations draw generally positive comments from key foreign industry associations. Senior China National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) official touts his country’s progress in enhancing the enforcement of intellectual property rights (IPR). Senior United States (US) senators ask for review of TikTok for potential counterintelligence risks as well as censorship. Tanzania revamps terms of USD $10 billion Bagamoyo port project for China Merchants Holdings International. Brexit and slow growth prospects in Japan lead Japan’s Hitachi to pursue opportunities in the US and Thailand. Japan’s Uniqlo pulls commercial airing in Korea that seemed to mock victims of wartime forced labor as well as comfort women. Iraq’s Port Authority awards South Korea’s Daewoo contract for prefabrication yard that is part of its Al Faw new port project. South Korean firms both suffer and gain from US restrictions against Huawei.

MNCs in the News-2019-10-18

At a State Council meeting, China promised more action to eliminate restrictive policies on foreign direct investment (FDI). China’s State Council announced new measures to expand the opening of its financial sector to foreign banks and insurers. China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) reported that China’s non-financial outward FDI grew 3.8 percent for the 1st three quarters of 2019 year-over-year (YOY), a slight improvement over the prior YOY period. Per a high ranking Cambodian official, for the period 2016 to August 2019 China was his country’s largest investor, with the Belt and Road facilitating this. Japan may exempt asset management companies, including hedge funds, from its new FDI review regime. A no-deal Brexit might significantly impair the value of Nissan’s FDI in the United Kingdom (UK). Strikes at GM Korea and other issues have dented Korea’s exports. Doosan Group’s move to transfer its data storage and protection system to Amazon Web Services raises concerns about development of local cloud computing sector.

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