China Briefs

ECB, Canada, and Sweden broaden the Developed Market rate cut cycle, while the Federal Reserve and Bank of England stay with higher-for-longer policy.

For most businesses in China, including foreign firms, directly addressing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is unchartered territory. Many companies are still in the early stages of their sustainability journey in China, and existing programs often lack strategic intent or deep commitment. We see a tremendous opportunity for foreign firms to exploit areas of Chinese policy and SDG alignment to raise the impact and relevance of their sustainability programs in China.

What drives the public’s evaluations and expectations of corporate social responsibility (CSR) communication in a global environment? Although companies have embraced CSR has a key business strategy, globalization has introduced new challenges for public relations practitioners seeking to engage audiences on a global level.

China’s new Environmental Protection Tax Law (EPT Law) came into effect on January 1. It replaces the old Pollutant Discharge Fees System. Taxation could increase, as more headroom for localities allows to set higher tax rates. Some leveling of the playing field is possible, as non-compliance and tax evasion are addressed. Supply chain costs may be impacted.

Last winter’s air pollution control plan in the larger Beijing area was unprecedented both in scale and intensity. The action plan was part of a much broader, central government-led effort to tackle China’s pervasive air pollution problem and significantly ramp up environmental protection efforts in general. It is highly unlikely at this point that the government will backtrack on this issue, given the long-term economic and political ramifications of doing so.

While China is poised to become an innovation challenger, will it out-innovate its global competitors? Our research finds that compared to the U.S., twice as many CEOs in China say they have an actual process in place for measuring innovation.