BritCham China Policy Insights Aug 2019 | Page 5

Manufacturing Computer and communications Future technologies equipment Pharmaceuticals New materials Producer services Business services Trade circulation Technical services Agriculture Water conservancy and environment Health and social work Tourism infrastructure and services The revisions to the Negative List and Encouraged List represent a step in the right direction in the ongoing liberalisation and opening-up of the Chinese economy. However, whilst central government rhetoric at Davos and during the Two Sessions is encouraging, businesses remain concerned that these national policy changes will not be met with effective implementation. On paper, the complete removal of an industry from the Negative List should imply the elimination of any market access barriers, yet for British businesses many of the regulatory challenges at a local industry level remain. Furthermore, guidelines as to the implications of the implications of revisions to the Negative List or Encouraged List for businesses have yet to be released, generating uncertainty among foreign businesses who are faced with a conflicting regulatory landscape at the central and local level. BRITCHAM POLICY INSIGHTS| PAGE 4