Police in Shanghai prepare to melt down confiscated guns and controlled knives on Tuesday. The municipality's police have investigated 18 gun-related cases since the beginning of this year, and confiscated 308 guns. Fan Jun / Xinhua

Trademarks

Call to protect trademarks abroad

Domestic companies should be encouraged to better protect their brands overseas and fight against malicious registration of their time-honored trademarks, according to a senior judge and experts.

"(Some overseas companies or individuals) make use of foreign laws to maliciously register well-known Chinese trademarks in foreign countries," said Lang Guimei, a senior judge from the intellectual property tribunal under the Supreme People's Court. "We should be more aware of that."

Figures from the State Administration for Industry and Commerce show that more than 2,000 such cases occurred between 1980 and 2009, causing an estimated annual economic loss of 1 billion yuan ($163 million; 125 million euros).

The administration estimated that about 15 percent of time-honored Chinese brands have been maliciously registered overseas, according to an article on its website earlier this year.

With more Chinese companies going global in recent years, conflicts are becoming fiercer. "The priority (of these companies) is to apply and register their trademarks overseas as soon as possible to prevent infringement," said Lang.

Food Safety

HK to lift controls on baby formula: Expert

A dairy industry expert said on July 14 that Hong Kong is likely to lift its restriction on taking baby formula out of the Special Administrative Region in October.

Wang Dingmian, former vice-chairman of the Guangdong Dairy Industry Association, said lifting the ban is in the interests of both Hong Kong retailers and Chinese mainland residents.

"Hong Kong probably will lift the restrictions soon, and one of the major reasons is that the ban has triggered concern from the mainland that it is a form of discrimination," Wang said.

Ko Wing-man, Hong Kong's secretary for food and health, said the government will determine in October whether milk suppliers can ensure an adequate supply for Hong Kong residents.

Ko was quoted by Xinhua News Agency as saying that if milk suppliers can show they can meet the city's need, the Hong Kong government will abolish the restriction on milk powder purchases.

The restriction, which went into effect on March 1, bans people 16 and older from carrying more than two cans of infant milk formula, or 1.8 kilograms in total, out of Hong Kong without prior approval.

Investment

Key investment talks to restart

Beijing and Washington agreed on July 11 to restart stalled negotiations on an investment treaty, a move hailed as a significant breakthrough from the annual Strategic and Economic Dialogue.

Observers said the agreement comes as China shows a willingness to open up more sectors to foreign competition and the US shows its commitment to treat Chinese enterprises fairly.

According to a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry after the S&ED ended in Washington, the two sides agreed to begin "substantive negotiations" on a bilateral investment treaty.

The statement said the US pledged to welcome Chinese investment and to treat it equally and fairly, including investment from State-owned enterprises.

"China announced its intention to negotiate a high-standard bilateral investment treaty with us that will include all stages of investment and all sectors - a significant breakthrough, and the first time China has agreed to do so with another country," US Secretary of the Treasury Jack Lew said.

China Daily

( China Daily European Weekly 07/19/2013 page3)