Retail Trade and Distribution

U.S. to strip Hong Kong of special trade privileges; China adopts its first-ever civil code; and more entry exemptions on the horizon for select countries

Beijing imposes national security law on Hong Kong; U.S. adds more Chinese entities to Entity List; and Alibaba, Xiaomi set to join benchmark Hong Kong index

U.S. targets Huawei's access to chips globally with new export rule; China readies retaliatory measures against U.S. businesses; exemptions to China entry ban granted for some foreign business executives

New U.S. export controls target Chinese acquisition of sensitive technology

U.S. Commerce Department removes civilian end-use exception for tech exports to China; ChiNext to trial registration-based IPO system following STAR board success; new civil litigation evidence rules take effect amid coronavirus disruption to contracts

China's anti-monopoly regulator accepts VIE merger filing for the first time; Supreme Court outlines plans to strengthen IP rights protection; and rules changed to remove hurdles for medical equipment exporters

How has disruption to Chinese businesses and deals shifted as the virus itself has moved from China to the U.S.? Scott Yu and Meg Utterback discuss the pandemic's impact on international M&A, litigation, antitrust enforcement, and U.S. regulatory action against Chinese companies

U.S. agencies recommend stripping China Telecom of operating license over national security concerns; China knocks U.S. off top spot in global patent filing league table; and Chinese customs to increase checks on medical equipment exports amid complaints about low quality

JPMorgan set for full control of asset management business with minority partner buyout; Luckin Coffee reveals financial fraud amid growing concern over Chinese listings; and the U.S. set to ramp up tech export restrictions for China, report says.

In the first episode of the China Law Podcast, we discuss Chinese businesses claiming force majeure exemptions to contracts. Should foreign counterparties grant these exemptions? Must they? Or should they sue instead? And perhaps most importantly, would they win?