China is France's leading trading partner in Asia. For a small business, the key is to check your partner carefully and to put every agreement clearly in writing.
Trade with France
In 2024, France and China traded €95 billion in goods: France sold €24 billion and bought €71 billion. Source: French Treasury.
Checking a Chinese company before you pay
The official public register is the National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System (gsxt.gov.cn, in Chinese). It shows the official name, the unified social credit code (18 characters) and the status of the company.
Step by step
- Ask for the official name in Chinese and the unified social credit code.
- Search for them on gsxt.gov.cn (your browser can translate the page).
- Compare the name, address and declared activity.
- Be wary of a name in English only, or of a bank account in the name of another company.
The name must be the same everywhere: in the register, on the contract, on the official company seal and on the bank account. A different name can mean a different company: pay nothing before you get a written explanation.
Doing business with a Chinese company: our advice
- Have the contract written in Chinese and in English or French, and state which version prevails.
- In China, the official company seal carries great weight: check that it is on the contract and bears the same name as the register.
- Start with a small order or samples, with a reasonable deposit.
- Plan for Chinese New Year closures in your delivery times.
Trade fairs in China
Our useful guides
What changes in 2026 for your trade
- Carbon border tax (CBAM): since 1 January 2026, steel, aluminium, cement, fertilisers, hydrogen and electricity imported into the European Union pay a carbon price (above 50 tonnes a year). China is one of the main countries of origin of the imports concerned. Our CBAM guide.
- Deforestation-free products (EUDR): wood, coffee, cocoa, natural rubber, soya, palm oil and cattle will have to prove their origin from 30 December 2026 (30 June 2027 for small businesses). China is classified as low risk by the European Commission: simplified procedures, but geolocation of the plots remains compulsory. Our EUDR guide.
- Small parcels: since 1 July 2026, a customs duty of €3 per product category on parcels worth €150 or less, then €2 in handling fees from 1 November 2026. Our guide.
- Electronic invoicing in France: since 1 September 2026, businesses established in France receive their invoices electronically. A Chinese company with no establishment in France does not have to issue these invoices; it only sends certain data to the French tax administration ("e-reporting") if it owes French VAT itself. Our fact sheet.
For information only, up to date on 1 November 2026; sources: European Commission, EUR-Lex, impots.gouv.fr. Only the authorities are authoritative.
Good to know: what China controls
- Selling food products of animal origin in China (meat, dairy products…): China does not recognise the European health system. Each French company must obtain its own approval, on file and sometimes after an inspection. The procedure is long: find out before promising a delivery.
- Buying gallium, germanium, graphite, drones or certain aircraft parts in China: since 2023-2024, exporting them requires a licence from the Chinese authorities. Before ordering, ask your supplier whether it has this licence. Without it, it cannot export these products.
- Counterfeiting: China remains "the world's leading source of counterfeit and pirated goods". Penalties in France are explained in our guide Protecting yourself from scams.
For information only, based on the notes of the Economic Department of the French Embassy in Beijing (20 June 2024 and 21 October 2024, tresor.economie.gouv.fr). Chinese rules change often: check with the authorities before any order. Only the authorities are authoritative.
Business etiquette
- The family name comes first: Mr Wang Wei is called "Mr Wang". Ask him how he prefers to be addressed.
- Business cards are given and received with both hands; take the time to read the card before putting it away.
- The relationship (guanxi) matters as much as the price: a meal, a visit or a video call build trust before the first order.
- A polite "yes" does not always mean "agreed": have every important point (price, deadline, quality) confirmed in writing.
General advice: every person and every company is different.
Culture and daily life
📅 Next festival in China: Tết / Chinese New Year, on Saturday 6 February 2027 — in 94 days. See the full calendar.
Useful organisations
- French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China
- Business France (offices in China)
- EU SME Centre: free advice for small European businesses working with China.
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🏮 See also: Chinese New Year, Mid-Autumn, mooncakes: the great festivals of Asia and your business.