On December 27, the Chinese government launched a safeguard investigation on beef imports. Safeguards investigations take into account imports from around the world, rather than singling out imports from specific countries, but given current trade flows for beef, the investigation may have a particular impact on Chinese trade with Brazil

In late December, the U.S. Trade Representative's Office started an investigation into Chinese policies and practices that it said were designed to "dominate domestic and global markets in the semiconductor industry," focusing on foundational semiconductors and silicon carbide substrates (or other wafers used as inputs

Chinese Ministry of Commerce data shows that foreign investment in China has dropped over the first 11 months of this year. However, investment from the Middle East may become a new area for growth.

Last week, the Canadian government sanctioned eight Chinese officials and former officials. This could trigger another round of retaliatory sanctions, as past experience shows that China has responded to foreign sanctions with its own countermeasures, especially since the enactment of its Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law.

A pilot program allowing the establishment of wholly foreign-owned hospitals in nine Chinese cities offers new opportunities for international investors, but it also comes with specific restrictions and requirements, balancing the drive for foreign capital with the protection of sensitive medical practices and data.

At today's press conference, China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) spokesperson He Yadong addressed several issues affecting international trade relations: Drone exports to the U.S. and Europe, Australian lobster imports, and U.S. efforts to remove Chinese telecom equipment.

The U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) added a Chinese company and a Chinese citizen to its sanctions lists, on the basis of a 2020 firewall compromise.