China Set to Lose Out to Vietnam as U.S. TPP Deal Looms
Feb. 6 – The Trans-Pacific Partnership trade bloc that the United States has entered into with 10 nations and of which China has been highly critical, is set to bite into China’s textiles industry later this year when U.S.-Vietnamese negotiations over tariffs and tax rates are concluded. The TPP – which includes the United States, […]
Shanghai to Create China’s First Free Trade Zone
Jan. 29 – Shanghai’s acting mayor, Yang Xiong, has stated that the city wishes to create Mainland China’s first free trade zone in a three-year development project that will link and upgrade the city’s existing bonded facilities in Pudong. The plan has apparently already been approved by the central government and was introduced at the […]
Hong Kong and Italy Sign Comprehensive DTA
On January 14, 2013, Hong Kong and Italy signed a comprehensive double taxation agreement (DTA).
China’s SAT Releases Clarifications on Capital Gains Under DTAs
Jan. 25 – On December 31, 2012, the State Administration of Taxation (SAT) promulgated the “Announcement on Issues Concerning the Capital Gains Article under Tax Treaties (SAT Announcement 2012 No.59, hereinafter referred to as the ‘Announcement’).” The Announcement is intended to supplement guoshuifa (2010) No. 75 (“Circular 75”) released by the SAT in September 2010, […]
Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement Negotiations Continue
Jan. 23 – On January 16, the Multilateral Trade Assistance Project (MUTRAP) and the Danang Branch of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) held a seminar to discuss the contents of the Vietnam-European Union (EU) Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The seminar’s purpose was to assist Vietnamese enterprises in gaining a clearer understanding of […]
India, EU Move to Strengthen Ties Amid FTA Negotiations
Jan. 24 – India and the European Union (EU) have been moving to strengthen their ties in both the execution of an India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and in facilitating trade between Indian and European small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The EU-India FTA will be the world’s biggest trade pact, and will benefit 1.7 billion […]
India-ASEAN Services and Investments FTA Finalized
Jan. 18 – India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) finalized their anticipated free trade agreement (FTA) in services and investments on December 20, 2012 during the India-ASEAN Commemorative Summit in New Delhi, India. The move is likely to boost trade to US$100 billion by 2015. Trade between India and ASEAN presently stands […]
Vietnam and Singapore Sign Second Protocol to Amend DTA
Jan. 16 – On September 12, 2012, Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Vietnamese Minister of Finance Vuong Dinh Hue signed a second Protocol to amend the existing double taxation agreement (DTA) between the two countries. The DTA entered into force on January 11, 2013 in Singapore, and will be […]
New Issue of Vietnam Briefing: Annual Compliance and Audit
In this issue of Vietnam Briefing, we address a number of annual compliance topics relevant to foreign investors in Vietnam. Namely, annual reporting for foreign-owned enterprises and representative offices, as well as annual tax finalization (corporate income tax and personal income tax), and annual financial statements (structure, general accounting treatments, deductible expenditures, submission).
Singapore-European Union Conclude Free Trade Agreement
Dec. 18 – Singapore concluded an agreement with the European Union (EU) this weekend in a deal that will grant both parties improved access to each other’s markets. Singapore is the first Southeast Asian nation to conclude such a deal, with the agreement seeing the EU eliminating tariffs on all imports from Singapore over a […]