US China Trade Deal – Will it Work?

US China Trade Deal – Will it Work?
by Gordon Orr on 01-23-2020 at 6:00 am

China US Trade deal Will it Work

A signed trade deal between the US and China has finally been signed. How much does this settle down the relationship and what will continue to cause problems? Given that in the same week as the deal was signed, the US government confirmed their new tough restrictions on allowing Chinese investment at any level into technology … Read More


Chinese consumers in 2020 5 trends to watch

Chinese consumers in 2020 5 trends to watch
by Gordon Orr on 01-19-2020 at 6:00 am

Chinese consumers in 2020 5 trends to watch

My friends at McKinsey just released their annual look at the Chinese consumer. As always, they have interviewed thousands across China to draw out “what is different this year?” They start however from the key point that has not changed – that over the 2000s China has accounted for almost one third of the growth in global household… Read More


China in 2020: Lower profits, more bankruptcies, and new challenges doing business

China in 2020: Lower profits, more bankruptcies, and new challenges doing business
by Gordon Orr on 01-15-2020 at 6:00 am

China in 2020 Lower profits more bankruptcies and new challenges doing business

This is the fifth and final part of the series

For many industrial businesses, 2019 has been tough. Profits lower across the board – light and heavy industry, state-owned and private businesses. Labor costs rising while ex-factory prices are not. Access to debt restricted. The gap between high performers and laggards widened

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China in 2020: Navigating the new policy landscape

China in 2020: Navigating the new policy landscape
by Gordon Orr on 01-12-2020 at 6:00 am

China in 2020 Navigating the new policy landscape

This is the fourth of a five part series

Many companies saw 2019 as a year when more and more regulations piled on to them. CEOs who were the legal representative for their company in China got increasingly nervous as legal teams updated them on their personal responsibility under new regulations. Unfortunately for them, 2020 will… Read More


China in 2020: Electric vehicles rebound, the rise of the Greater Bay Area

China in 2020: Electric vehicles rebound, the rise of the Greater Bay Area
by Gordon Orr on 01-07-2020 at 10:00 am

China in 2020 Electric vehicles rebound the rise of the Greater Bay Area

This is the third of a five part series

Vehicle manufacturers in China had a tough 2018 and 2019. The overall market fell 8 percent by volume in 2018 and another 3 percent in the year to October 2019. Looking forward, demand faces several headwinds. Anyone spending time in a major city realizes just how unpleasant the experience of … Read More


China in 2020: Theme parks, healthier eating, and the rise of the new Chinese consumer

China in 2020: Theme parks, healthier eating, and the rise of the new Chinese consumer
by Gordon Orr on 01-06-2020 at 6:00 am

China in 2020 Theme parks healthier eating and the rise of the new Chinese consumer

This is the second of a five part series

Consumer retail spending in the first 10 months of 2019 rose 8 percent year on year, ahead of income growth of roughly 6 percent. Over 10 million new jobs were created. With moderate house price growth and a positive year in domestic stock markets over the last year, the wealth impact on consumer… Read More


China in 2020: Trade, technology, and the path ahead for US-China relations

China in 2020: Trade, technology, and the path ahead for US-China relations
by Gordon Orr on 01-05-2020 at 6:00 am

China in 2020 Trade technology and the path ahead for US China relations

This is the first of a five part series

2019 in China brought together long running challenges, such as uncertainty over US-China tariff levels and ever more intrusive regulation of business in China, with a few unexpected ones as well: the crisis in Hong Kong and the flare up triggered by tweets from an NBA coach, to mention just two.… Read More