An Analysis Of The Influence Of National Differences On The Business Practices Of Multinational Corporations In China

Abstract

A lot has changed in the Chinese public's perception of multinational corporations (MNCs) since the late 1970s, when the country's economy started to open up to FDI and global brands like 3M, Coca-Cola, and Volkswagen began exploring the Chinese market. New multinational corporations (MNCs) like NEC, Philips, and Motorola were warmly welcomed by the country in the 1980s. In addition to paying half the corporation tax rate that local enterprises were obligated to pay, they were exempt from paying customs on capital goods they imported. Everybody from the government to the general population thought very highly of them. Foreign firms continued to be the subjects of awe and admiration in China even as the number of Chinese citizens learning about MNCs increased in the 1990s. The products and services provided by MNCs were popular with Chinese consumers during that period. There has been a lot of focus lately on making sure that multinational corporations' activities don't undermine national interests. Furthermore, local treatment is becoming more common for international enterprises. This is supported by the fact that as of January 1, 2008, both domestic and foreign companies would be subject to the same corporate tax rate. More and more, people are demanding that MNCs adhere to the same, if not stricter, regulations for employment and environmental protection as their domestic competitors. Another change they've seen is that those criteria are being applied with a little more rigour than previously.