The sample arrives. The finish looks right, the price works and communication has been quick. At that point, it is easy to feel confident about a new supplier. But a sample really answers only one question: can this supplier make one acceptable unit? A purchase order asks a much harder one: can they make hundreds or thousands of them consistently, on schedule and at the agreed standard? That distinction matters when sourcing in China. One of the first things worth understandi

Can electric vehicles reopen an agricultural market? In January 2026, Canada and China announced an agreement that was quickly characterized as “EVs for canola.” Canada agreed to admit up to 49,000 electric vehicles manufactured in China annually at a 6.1% tariff—replacing the previous 100% surtax within that quota. China subsequently reduced the combined tariff on Canadian canola seed from almost 85% to 14.9%. It also temporarily suspended additional tariffs on canola meal,

Videos of Chinese humanoid robots dancing, boxing and performing martial arts regularly attract international attention. But behind these spectacular demonstrations lies a more important business story: China is building an entire industrial ecosystem capable of developing and commercializing robotics at remarkable speed. A recent Guardian investigation visited 11 robotics companies across five Chinese cities. It found that China’s advantage comes not only from engineering ta

China is transforming factories, innovation centres and smart manufacturing sites into a new kind of tourist attraction. As highlighted in a recent BFM Business French report, Chinese authorities are encouraging leading technology companies to open selected facilities to visitors and turn industrial innovation into an immersive experience. From automated electric-vehicle factories and robotics centres to artificial intelligence, drones and smart mobility, tech tourism allows