The Keys for SMEs to Succeeding in E-commerce: An Overview of China’s E-Commerce Law

E-commerce is playing an increasingly significant role in both domestic and cross-border trade, with China – accounting for 42% of the global e-commerce market – on the forefront of this trend. E-commerce sales in China accounted for 23.8% of all retail sales in China in 2017, and the growth rate of e-commerce in the country is expected to continue at a break-neck speed. Responding to the increasing relevance of this mode of trade, the National People’s Congress passed at the end of August 2018 its first comprehensive law regulating e-commerce.

The EU SME Centre and the European Union Chamber of Commerce are pleased to welcome you to join our next Working Group Meeting, where Mr. Michael Tan from Taylor Wessing and Mr. Kyle Freeman from Dezan Shira will discuss the implications of the newly issued E-Commerce Law, as well as the opportunities European businesses and more concretely SMEs can find by embracing an e-commerce model in China. The meeting will take place at the European Chamber Beijing and Shanghai offices on the 30th November from 13:30 to 15:30. If you would like to attend, please register before the 29th November COB. The event is free of charge for European SMEs.

Agenda

Registration

This event is free of charge, but only opens to:

• European small and medium-sized enterprises
• SME intermediary organisations such as embassies or consulates, chambers of commerce, international organisations and industry associations

If you would like to attend this event, please send an email to Ms Ester Cañada Amela before 29 Nov.

Speakers

Michael Tan

Michael is a partner in the Taylor Wessing Corporate, M&A and Capital Markets group in China. He has profound experience in supporting multinational as well as medium-sized corporations in their business operations and investments in mainland China. His experience includes advising on the establishment of foreign investment enterprises in various industries, M&A, restructuring and liquidation. Michael has advised on several projects in the mineral resources, automotive, aviation, telecommunication and real estate sectors. Michael also provides support to Chinese companies in their “going abroad” activities, including business expansion and IPO in Europe.

In addition to his expertise in general foreign investment and corporate matters, he specializes in IT regulatory, data protection issues and other new technology driven sectors. He is familiar with the rapidly developing TMC sector in China. He quite often publishes articles and frequently comments on IT and data protection related legal topics.

Michael is currently the Legal Working Group Shanghai Local Chair of European Chamber of Commerce. He also serves as an arbitrator of the Shanghai International Arbitration Center (SHIAC).

Michael Tan is a Certified Information Privacy Professional/Europe (IAPP).

Kyle Freeman

Kyle Freeman is a Manager with the International Business Advisory team at Dezan Shira & Associates’ Beijing and Tianjin offices. He advises clients on market entry strategy, corporate structuring and establishment, and related tax and legal issues concerning investment in China.

Prior to joining Dezan Shira & Associates, Kyle worked in government relations and China trade policy for various public and private organizations. His work included assisting in high-level, US-China bilateral trade dialogues and organizing public-private cooperation programs to promote US and foreign investment in China.

Kyle has a master’s degree in economics and international trade from the University of International Business and Economics, in Beijing, and dual bachelor’s degrees in economics and global affairs from George Mason University, in Washington D.C. He has also been a visiting fellow at the University of Oxford and the Beijing Language Culture University.

About the EU SME Centre

The EU SME Centre helps European SMEs to get ready for China. Financed by the European Union, the Centre provides practical information, confidential advice, training and business tools to better equip SMEs to develop their business and tackle challenges faced in the Chinese market. The Centre is implemented by six partners – the China-Britain Business Council, the Benelux Chamber of Commerce, the China-Italy Chamber of Commerce, the French Chamber of Commerce in China, EUROCHAMBRES and the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China. To learn more about the EU SME Centre, visit www.eusmecentre.org.cn.