Start trading in the Chinese markets

Ranging from consumers, wholesalers, agents, and factories, from raw materials to the products in the hands of the consumer. Access to China, a UK based company, has been operating in the Chinese markets for over 20 years with over 100 years of experience among our staff.

Over the last ten years, China has moved most of its trading online. Given the size of the country and cities and 1.4 billion people, the Internet has allowed the country to grow its internal markets. This has allowed consumer prices to be driven down and quality to be greatly increased. Given these and many other benefits, the adoption of Internet technology has been fast in China.

This adoption of new technology does not stop with the internet; green technology adoption is growing very fast. Green tech is seen in China as cheaper, fastest and functionality richer. The Chinese government are driving the development due to the high pollution level in China.

Green technology our focus for 2024. Today, China is the world's largest producer and user of Green technology.

Access to the world's largest market

Overseas social media is not available in China. Having your website seen and found is critical to successful business relationship building in China.

Many regions and countries worldwide speak Mandarin, i.e., Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, California, Hong Kong, Vietnam and many more. Adding Mandarin language to your SEO data can open your website to trading worldwide beyond China. The Chinese market goes way beyond the 1.4 billion people living in China.

Given the importance of being seen on the internet in China and Chinese markets worldwide, Access to China focus of our business is getting your business, products and services seen online in China.

Chinese green technology

Green Technology is key to most businesses’ growth in the next five years. Chinese Green Technology has been developing rapidly, given consumers and government demands to reduce China's high pollution levels.

Green technology is key to most businesses’ growth in the next five years.

The development of Green Technology is starting to give greater efficiencies, reduce costs, and increase productivity, i.e., electric vehicles; greatly reduced operating costs, greatly improved performance, and improved safety.

We believe Green Technology should give you more, not less.

Sourcing products and services from China

For the last 40 years, China has built up its manufacturing base to be one of the most successful in the world.

In recent years, the growth of the Chinese domestic consumer market has increased imports from overseas of high-quality products. In turn, this has driven up the quality of locally produced products. Today, China is moving towards better quality products.

Lower-quality products are moving to other Asian countries.

The global issues, starting with the virus in early 2020 and continuing today with conflicts around the world, resulted in a rethinking of supply chains. The repatriation of manufacturing back to your country using China's production know-how is an option for consideration.

Chinese trading information and recommendation

Access to China information and recommendations for your consideration to support your Chinese trading ambitions. In our trading in China for over 20+ years, running and operating Chinese businesses, we have gathered lots of information and recommendations.

Short video presentations (coming February 2024)
Internet in China information
Papers and reports
Useful links

We are happy to share this information and are always interested in adding to the pool of information. Any ideas, requests or information, very well.

Successful trading in China

Access to China and its directors have worked and traded in China for over twenty years. We have manufactured, imported, and exported to China during this time. While Access to China mainly focuses on IT services, we still help Chinese source products and services from overseas companies.

There are many books and websites dedicated to the subject of successfully trading with/within China.

We wish to add a few pointers to trading with the Chinese markets.

Brand ownership – generally, there is little brand protection between China and the rest of the world;

i.e., your brand registered in the UK / EU / USA does not give protection in mainland China. Your brand can be registered in China by a Chinese or international company, which will remove all your trading rights to use your brand in China.

We recommend registering your band(s), trademarks and logos in mainland China. This will give you the power to develop your market in China without travelling to China.

IPO—Intellectual Property rights—As with branding ownership, it is important to ensure your company's rights are protected. A protected IPO also provides additional benefits for new and leading ideas and technical developments. Organisations in Asia will fund part or all of the development costs.

Research your products and band in China – Your research can start without travelling to China. Look for your products/bands on the Asia websites and search engines. You may find your Asia market has already been developed for you;

e.g., Baby food products in Tesco in the UK have been resold in China

Central and regional government funding—The Chinese government has successfully grown Its GNP through investment in Chinese businesses and infrastructure. One key to this success is creating and publishing the five-year Chinese development plan.

If you plan to trade with China, start with a five-year review of the Chinese development plan.

Most large Chinese businesses are government-owned. Their achievement will measure the success of government companies against the five-plan. Each government company has to report to the regional and national governments on 1 October each year.

Many SMEs receive funding if they can demonstrate they can add to the progress of the five-year plan.

This often leads to new Chinese asking for JV with oversees companies to meet the goals of releasing government funding, e.g.

Moving overseas manufacturing to China
Having access to new technologies
Creating local employment

While planning to trade with a new company in China, planning to raise government funding is not bad; you need to clearly understand where the funding comes from before your business makes any interest in time and money.

Chinese contact—This is the hardest thing to do in any country. Who are you talking to, and what role are they working in?

Use the internet to find as much information as possible about their business.

Often, you will have multiple business cards with different company names and details. Check all the information and the relationship between the companies.

Knowing where the power base is in a meeting is very difficult. Usually, the person in the room with nothing to prove asks the fewest questions.

Please note that government staff can no longer receive expensive gifts or be taken for costly meals. We recommend keeping things simple and to the point.

Always walk away if it does not feel right. If necessary, they will come and find you.

Most importantly, ask for help from international trading organisations, references, etc.

Please see the “useful link” to help you find more information.

Last modified: September 2018