China has recently taken several actions showing its commitment to counter trade restrictions imposed by other countries. In March 2025, it released regulations implementing the 2021 Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law. In tandem with...more
4/14/2025
/ China ,
Economic Sanctions ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Exports ,
Foreign Policy ,
Foreign Relations ,
International Trade ,
Multinationals ,
National Security ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Trade Relations
The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited ("HKEx") and the Securities and Futures Commission ("SFC") have announced temporary changes to the Hong Kong Listing Rules regarding the minimum initial market capitalization of...more
This White Paper focuses on ESG developments through the Asia-Pacific (“APAC”) region since the start of 2024.
For businesses present in the APAC region, as well as doing business there, it is imperative to be vigilant of...more
7/24/2024
/ Asia Pacific ,
Climate Action Plan ,
Climate Change ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
Green Energy ,
Greenwashing ,
Net Zero ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Reporting Requirements
The impact of ESG (environmental, social & governance) laws, regulations, and obligations has increased in recent times at an almost incomprehensible rate. This is particularly true in the Asia-Pacific (“APAC”) region. Within...more
2/13/2024
/ Civil Penalty Fund ,
Climate Change ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Critical Infrastructure Sectors ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Green Energy ,
Greenwashing ,
Natural Resources ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Shareholders ,
Solar Energy
The Situation: The Growth Enterprise Market (the "GEM") listing activities in Hong Kong have been declining since 2019, and there was no new listed issuer on the GEM in 2022....more
The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited ("HKEx") introduced a new exemption allowing existing shareholders and cornerstone investors to subscribe for or purchase further securities in an IPO (i.e., to "double dip") under...more
In Short -
The Situation: Certain provisions of the current Codes on Takeovers and Mergers and Share Buybacks of Hong Kong (the "Codes") may cause confusion to companies and relevant stakeholders in complying with the...more
On 8 August 2023, the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong ("SFC") published consultation conclusions on proposed amendments to enforcement-related provisions of the Securities and Futures Ordinance ("SFO")....more
In Short -
The Situation: Certain provisions of the current Codes on Takeovers and Mergers and Share Buy-Backs of Hong Kong (the "Codes") may cause confusion to companies and relevant stakeholders in complying with the...more
The Hong Kong Listing Rule amendments relating to People's Republic of China ("PRC") issuers came into effect on August 1, 2023....more
In Short -
The Situation: In the past few years, the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the "Stock Exchange") has taken initiatives to introduce a paperless listing regime and make changes to documentary requirements. ...more
In Short -
The Situation: Hong Kong currently falls behind the United States and Mainland China in terms of the number and market capitalization of companies belonging to the "Specialist Technology Industries."...more
In Short -
The Situation: The U.S. Public Company Accounting Oversight Board's ("PCAOB") ability to inspect and investigate PCAOB-registered public accounting firms in mainland China and Hong Kong was previously restricted...more
The Underlying Dispute The dispute giving rise to the Second Circuit's decision began with a trademark infringement suit filed by Nike in 2013 against several hundred Chinese retailers for selling counterfeit Nike products on...more
9/20/2021
/ Asset Freeze ,
China ,
Contempt ,
Counterfeit Goods Regulation ,
Default Judgment ,
Extraterritoriality Rules ,
Financial Transactions ,
Foreign Banks ,
Nike ,
Restraining Orders ,
Retail Market ,
Sanctions ,
Separate Entity Rule ,
Trademark Infringement
The Situation: As part of a series of recent executive actions regarding the People's Republic of China ("PRC"), President Biden issued a new executive order on June 3, 2021—Executive Order 14032—that refines novel sanctions...more
6/30/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
China ,
Defense Sector ,
Executive Orders ,
Foreign Policy ,
Foreign Relations ,
Investment ,
National Security ,
Prohibited Transactions ,
Securities Transactions ,
Supply Chain
President Biden's Executive Orders on China underscore the need for experienced counsel in U.S.-China transactions as the two countries' relations continue to impact the regulatory landscape. On June 9, 2021, President Biden...more
6/30/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Blocking Statutes ,
China ,
Executive Orders ,
Foreign Adversaries ,
Foreign Policy ,
Foreign Relations ,
Mobile Apps ,
National Security ,
Software ,
Supply Chain ,
TikTok ,
Trade Retaliation ,
US Trade Policies
The Development: China's National People's Congress passed the Anti-foreign Sanctions Law (the "Anti-Sanctions Law") on June 10, 2021, which took effect immediately. The legislation was adopted by China in response to certain...more
On 30 December 2020, the EU and China concluded in principle the negotiations for a wide-ranging investment treaty, the Comprehensive Agreement on Investment ("CAI"), after seven years of discussions.
The CAI is expected...more
The Development: China's Ministry of Commerce ("MOFCOM") released Rules on Counteracting Unjustified Extra-Territorial Application of Foreign Laws and Other Measures ("Rules") on January 9, 2021. Effective immediately, the...more
On November 12, 2020, President Trump issued an Executive Order titled "Addressing the Threat from Securities Investments that Finance Communist Chinese Military Companies," which will prohibit U.S. persons from participating...more
The Situation: On August 7, 2020, the U.S. Department of the Treasury ("Treasury Department") took the first action under the authority of "The President's Executive Order on Hong Kong Normalization" ("HK Normalization EO")...more
The companies were added to the Entity List for aiding Chinese military construction in the South China Sea.
Effective August 27, 2020, the Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security ("BIS") amended the Export...more
The Situation: On July 14, 2020, President Trump signed into law the Hong Kong Autonomy Act (the "HKAA"), the U.S. government's response to China's new National Security Law for Hong Kong.
The Result: The HKAA could...more
7/24/2020
/ Blocking Sanctions ,
China ,
Export Controls ,
Foreign Financial Institutions (FFI) ,
Hong Kong ,
Hong Kong Autonomy Act (HKAA) ,
Supply Chain ,
Trump Administration ,
U.S. Treasury ,
US State Departments ,
US Trade Policies
On June 30, 2020, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China passed the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special...more
Recent measures from U.S. lawmakers and Nasdaq to impose additional requirements on U.S.-listed China-based companies could have wider implications.
On May 20, 2020, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Holding Foreign...more
7/13/2020
/ China ,
China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) ,
Corporate Governance ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Foreign Governments ,
Listing Standards ,
Nasdaq ,
NYSE ,
PCAOB ,
Popular ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Securities Regulation