-- Obtain trading and distribution rights in China
Before 11th December 2004, Foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs), i.e. enterprises established by foreign investors in China(including wholly foreign-owned enterprises [WFOEs] or joint ventures [JV]) were only permitted to import raw materials and semi-manufactures for their own use and to export self-manufactured products directly. In this sense, FIEs generally were not permitted to trade in other products, including products manufactured by their parents and affiliates, causing inefficiencies by compelling the use of oligopolistic trading intermediaries.
But on 16th April 2004, the new Measures for Foreign Investment in Commerce (MFIC) was promulgated by Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China (MOFCOM). According to the Measures, Foreign-invested commercial enterprises (FICEs, one type of FIE) can distribute imported and locally manufactured products through their own wholesale, retail and franchise systems and to provide a host of related services, including storage, warehousing and garage services, inventory management, repairs, maintenance, training and delivery after December11, 2004. It's considerable progress in the implementation of China's WTO commitment to allow foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs) to exercise trading and distribution rights.
Overall, Foreign companies now may choose one of two ways to acquire trading and distribution rights. They can set up a new, standalone foreign-invested commercial enterprises (FICE) or apply to expand the businessscope of an existing FIE. Existing manufacturing FIEs, free-trade zone trading FIEs, investment companies, and regional headquarters FIEs may all apply to expand their businessscopes.
Following are the updated policy of trading and distribution rights:
Trading Rights
Opening Time
From 1st July 2004, FIEs can obtain Import/Export license
Business Scope
Import/Export product or technology
National treatment
Have the national treatment on "Internal sale"; "Offering for sale"; "Purchase"; "Transportation"; "Distribution"; "Using" or "Directly access to end-users"
Investment Capital
Minimum 1 million RMB (around 140,000USD$)
Distribution Rights
Opening Time
From 11th Dec, 2004 all the restriction removed
Business Scope
Wholesale, retail and franchise
Still under restriction
Books, newspapers, journals, pharmaceuticals, chemical fertilizers, pesticides, mulching films, processed and crude oil, motor vehicles, grain, vegetable oil, sugar and cotton
Investment Capital
Minimum 500,000 RMB (around 65,000USD$) for the wholesale; Minimum 300,000 RMB (around 38,000USD$) for the retail
Details of establishing a FICE under the Measures
1. Definition of a Foreign Invested Commercial Enterprise (FICE) under the Measures
A foreign invested commercial enterprise means a foreign invested enterprise, which engages in following areas:
(A) Agency with commission: selling other owned goods and providing related services by sales agency of goods, broker, or auctioneer or other wholesaler on the basis of contractual relationship.
(B) Wholesale: selling goods and providing related services to retailer, industrial user, commercial user, organizational user and other wholesaler.
(C) Retail: selling goods and providing related services to individual or collective consumer in fixed locations or by means of television, telephone, internet and automat.
(D) Franchise: licensing of trademark, trade name and businessmode by entering into a contract with others for the purpose of returns and license fee.
2. Business scope of a FICE
(A) A FICE in retail can engage in following businesses upon approval: Retail/Import of self-operation goods/Purchase and export of domestic goods/other related services.
(B) A FICE in wholesale can engage in following businesses upon approval: Wholesale/Agency with commission/Import and Export/ other related services.
3. Requirements for establishing a FICE
(A) Minimum registeredcapital shall be in compliance with respective requirementsin companylaw of PRC.
(B) Other requirementswith respect to registeredcapital and investment amount of FIE shall be satisfied (registeredcapital for a FICE shall be RMB 500,000.00 according to companylaw and Rules for the Implementation of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Foreign-Capital Enterprises).
(C) The general period of operation of a FICE shall not exceed 30 years, and the general period of operation of FICE located in the middle and western region shall not exceed 40 years
