Issue:
Cover by Benjamin A. Hurd
The World Cargo Alliance, a membership organization for companies handling cargo at the point of origin and destination, has put together a trade library that includes glossaries of International Commercial Terms (Incoterms), international payment terms, and ocean and air freight terms. The site also features a dictionary of industry acronyms. The International Chamber of Commerce first published Incoterms in 1936 to standardize business vocabulary so that buyers and sellers can understand their contractual responsibilities.
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/china/business/doc.asp?Name=76520&Language=en
The Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade's SME Survival Guide to the China Market makes a good starting point for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) considering doing business in China. Though geared toward Canadian firms, the site offers basic background information on China's markets and business climate, as well as negotiating tips, information on what to expect in China, and links to more resources. Most useful for SMEs is the outline of the particular strengths and weaknesses of SMEs that may affect their ability to succeed in China.
www.chinapages.com
Zhejiang Dife-Hope Information Development Co. Ltd. (Chinapages) features news and links to Chinese companies, arranged by sector. After registering, companies may also sign up for free e-mail newsletters and post announcements of what they wish to buy or sell.
www.sinosource.com
Sinosource, a China-based business information provider, offers links to Chinese companies, fairs, and exhibitions. Catering to SMEs, the site also allows visitors to post "wanted and offered" messages.
www.tradepoint.com.cn/english/tp.htm
Trade Point Beijing, hosted by the Beijing Municipal Foreign Economic Relations and Trade Commission, features a Beijing investment guide, foreign trade regulations, a virtual arts-and-crafts fair, an enterprise directory, and a link to the electronic Euro-Asian Trade Bridge, a site promoting trade between Europe and Asia. The investment gui de includes background information on the city and its economy, as well as relevant tax and investment laws and regulations.
www.bsr.org
The US-based Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) is a resource for companies interested in demonstrating good corporate citizenship. While some services are only available to members, the Global Business Responsibility Resource Center is open to anyone that registers. Topics covered include business ethics, environment, governance, human rights, and social audits and accountability.
Sites in Chinese
http://home.sina.com.cn
China's most popular Internet site, according to China Internet Network Information Center survey respondents, is a huge Chinese-language portal. With lengthy sections covering news, finance and economics, online shopping, sports, culture, travel, and entertainment, among others, visiting Sina.com (or Xinlang, as it is known in Chinese) is like getting the Sunday paper online. But Xinlang offers more than the paper does--interactive sections also allow readers to track stocks, play games, and visit chat rooms.
--Virginia A. Hulme
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