Monthly Archives: July, 2026
REACH SVHC: Why “We Checked Last Year” Isn’t Compliance
For consumer goods exported to the EU, REACH SVHC compliance often gets treated as a one-time checklist item — screen the product against the...
IP Ratings: Why a Higher Number Doesn’t Mean Better Protection
An IP (Ingress Protection) rating is defined by IEC 60529, and it's one of the more precisely testable specs a buyer can verify —...
Overseas Warehouse, Bonded Warehouse, or FBA: Choosing a Fulfillment Model
For sellers or trading companies shipping into markets like the US, "how do we store and fulfill inventory once it arrives" is a separate...
Factory Audits: What “We Passed” Actually Means, and What It Doesn’t
A supplier sending over a BSCI or SMETA audit report can feel like the due diligence question is settled. It usually isn't. Different audit...
“China Plus One” in 2026: What the Data Actually Shows Versus the Narrative
"China Plus One" has been discussed as settled fact for long enough that the underlying assumption rarely gets checked: that manufacturing capacity is moving...
China’s Industrial Robot Story Isn’t About How Many Are Installed — It’s About How Far Core Components Have Actually Localized
Headlines about China's industrial robot deployment tend to lead with a single striking number — 295,000 robots installed in 2024, 54% of the global...
A-Grade, B-Grade, C-Grade: The Lithium Cell Classification System Behind Every Battery-Powered Product You Source from China
If you source power banks, e-bikes, solar storage systems, or any product built around lithium cells, you've likely encountered the terms "A-grade," "B-grade," and...
China’s Rare Earth Export Licensing: Where Things Stand in 2026
For buyers of electronics, permanent magnets, or any product incorporating rare earth materials, China's export licensing regime has moved through several phases since 2025....
USB-C PD Wattage Claims: What to Verify Before Ordering Cables from China
USB Power Delivery now supports up to 240W through the Extended Power Range (EPR) specification. That headroom has created a specific sourcing problem: a...
The EU Battery Regulation Timeline: What’s Actually Enforced in 2026 vs. What’s Been Pushed Back
The EU Battery Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 has been circulating in Chinese-language trade press since it entered into force in August 2023, and by now...
GPSR Didn’t Change in 2026 — But Enforcement Did
The EU's General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) took effect on December 13, 2024, and most compliance guides written since then cover the same basics:...
China Just Reclassified Home RF Beauty Devices as Class III Medical Devices — What to Verify Before Sourcing Aesthetic Equipment from China
If you source aesthetic or beauty devices from China — whether professional energy-based equipment or home-use beauty gadgets — there's a 2026 development you...