New Policy on Finance and Tax: Announcement on VAT and Consumption Tax Policies for Export Businesses

The Ministry of Finance and the State Administration of Taxation recently issued Announcement No. 11 of 2026, which systematically clarifies the policies on value-added tax ("VAT") and consumption tax ("CCT") for export operations. The move aims to do a good job of policy convergence after the implementation of the Value-added Tax Law of the People's Republic of China and its implementing regulations, and generally continues the current system and practice. The Announcement has comprehensively sorted out and consolidated the policies on VAT refunds (exemptions) and exemptions applicable to the export of goods, cross-border sales of services and intangible assets.

New Policy on Finance and Tax: Announcement on Matters Relating to VAT Input Tax Credits and Other Matters

The Ministry of Finance (MOF) and the State Administration of Taxation (SAT) have recently issued an announcement to further clarify the relevant tax administration rules on the deduction of input tax credit for value-added tax (VAT). The announcement addresses the convergence issues after the implementation of the VAT Law of the People's Republic of China, and unifies and standardizes the operational details such as the scope of vouchers, calculation methods and declaration requirements for input tax credit, with the aim of optimizing tax administration, stabilizing market expectations and ensuring the smooth and effective operation of the VAT system. The relevant measures are effective from January 1, 2026 onwards.

Cross-Border Update: TikTok Shop Southeast Asia Releases AIGC Usage Guidelines

TikTok Shop Southeast Asia has introduced new rules that allow merchants to use AI-generated content (AIGC), subject to three major guidelines: AI-generated content must be a true reflection of the product's attributes such as color, size, and functionality; it is prohibited to use AI technology to fake fake effects of real people or avatars; and it is forbidden to fabricate sad stories or crisis events to pressure consumers to buy through AI. It is strictly prohibited to fabricate sad stories or crisis events through AI to pressure consumers to buy.

Cross-border News: Shopee Brazil 2026 Rate and Service Upgrade

Shopee Brazil has announced that from March 1, 2026, some services and rates will be adjusted. Free Shipping Service (FSS) will be provided free of charge to all sellers on the site; cross-border direct mail and three-way warehouse store commission rates will be adjusted simultaneously, and the cap on single-piece commission and handling fee for three-way warehouse goods will be eliminated; the platform will also introduce more buyer offers, such as platform free shipping coupons, exclusive discounts for payment channels and other incentives to help sellers boost sales.

Overseas Watch: global AI penetration rate to reach 16.3% by 2025

Global generative AI penetration reportedly rises to 16.31 TP3T in the second half of 2025, with about one in six people using AI tools, but the gap between North and South countries widens further: penetration in the North increases from 22.91 TP3T to 24.71 TP3T, while in the South it only rises from 13.11 TP3T to 14.11 TP3T, widening the gap to 10.6 The gap widened to 10.6 percentage points.

Overseas Watch: Vietnam fines TikTok VND880 million

Vietnam's Competition Commission has announced that it has fined the operators of social media platforms Zalo and TikTok a combined VND1.7 billion (about $64,700) for violations in the collection and use of user data by the two companies. Among them, TikTok was fined VND880 million.

INTERNATIONAL INFORMATION: U.S. and India Reach Trade Deal

The U.S. and India reached a trade deal that will see India lower trade barriers and stop buying Russian oil, while the U.S. will reduce the rate of so-called "reciprocal tariffs" on Indian exports to the U.S. to 181 TP3T from 251 TP3T. In addition, the U.S., the European Union, and Japan announced Wednesday the creation of an alliance on key mineral supply chains, and all three are planning broader trade agreements with other partners. plan to reach broader trade agreements with other partners.

International news: Musk's SpaceX merges with xAI

Elon Musk's space exploration technology company SpaceX announced in recent days that it has completed its wholly-owned acquisition of artificial intelligence company xAI, valuing the combined entity at $1.25 trillion and planning to launch the largest IPO in history within the year. the two sides will build a network of data centers in space through the integration of rocketry, satellite communications, and AI technology, and utilize solar energy to reduce the cost of computing power.