A Hungary-based company, Lightware Visual Engineering specialises in the design, manufacture and distribution of audiovisual automation and integration equipment. To foster the company’s growth in the Greater China region, Lightware established its regional headquarters and experience centre in Hong Kong. Sam Ng, the Regional Director, highlighted how the company leverages Hong Kong's strategic advantages to drive regional growth.

The European Commission (“Commission”) recently published guidelines (“Guidelines”) for the removability and replaceability of portable batteries and light means of transport (LMT) batteries covered by Article 11 of Regulation (EU) 2023/1542. The Guidelines describe the general scope and application of Article 11, provide definitions for important terms, and detail other significant considerations such as safety and data protection.

Malaysia is set to tighten rules on semiconductors in response to pressure from the US to stop the country being used for shipping restricted artificial intelligence chips to China. According to the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry, the US government is pressing Malaysia to monitor high-end Nvidia chips entering the country amid concerns that some are reaching China.

The U.S. Department of Energy is proposing the elimination or reduction of 47 separate regulations, including those affecting microwave ovens, air cleaners, compressors, external power supplies, dehumidifiers and various other products.

The House of Representatives recently approved several bills of potential interest to Hong Kong and Mainland Chinese exporters, including legislation that would establish mandatory standards for lithium-ion batteries.

Canada has amended its energy efficiency and testing standards for several new and currently regulated energy-using products largely in a further effort to harmonise its requirements with those in place in the U.S.

The European Commission has released its annual report on Safety Gate, the EU’s Rapid Alert System for hazardous non-food products. The report provides a comprehensive overview of hazardous products reported through Safety Gate in 2024. An increase in alerts, especially in product categories such as cosmetics, toys, and electrical appliances, is, in particular, highlighted. According to the Commission, these findings are linked to enhanced monitoring and enforcement by national authorities, as well as the introduction of new EU legislation aimed at improving product safety.

On 21 March, the Guangdong Provincial Tax Service unveiled 30 tax measures geared towards facilitating a modern industrial system. The measures aim to stimulate the drive for science and technology innovation through implementing preferential tax policies such as a lower income tax rate for high-tech enterprises and value added tax refunds for the purchase of domestic-made equipment by R&D institutions. They are also designed to strengthen emerging future industries and give rise to taxation systems and collection and administration measures suited to various industries. Qualifying modern service enterprises in Hengqin and Nansha are eligible for a reduced enterprise income tax rate of 15%. Traditional industries will also be helped to undergo transformation and upgrading. Steps will be taken to enhance the alignment of tax regulations in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao in a bid to optimise the regional industrial structure. Industrial openness and co-operation will be deepened by helping “going out” businesses and individuals to better understand the tax policies of their investment destinations and implementing “refund-upon-departure” measures for cross-border e-commerce exports to overseas warehouses. Preferential tax policies and services will also be offered to attract high-calibre talents.

The U.S. Department of Energy recently took certain regulatory actions involving consumer products and certain commercial and industrial equipment, showerheads, electric spas and manufactured housing.

A number of electronic products have been exempted from President Trump’s reciprocal import tariffs but could soon be subject to Section 232 tariffs instead.