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Handbook

Handbook

Short articles on choosing and working with a sourcing agent in China.

  • Trade fairs
    Canton Fair 140th session: the three phases, dates and what each one shows

    Official dates of the 140th Canton Fair in Guangzhou — 15 to 19 October, 23 to 27 October and 31 October to 4 November 2026 — and the product groups in each phase.

  • Fees
    Commission, daily rate or project fee: how sourcing agent charges are built

    The three common ways a sourcing agent in China charges, what each fee is tied to, when it grows, and how to compare quotes that use different structures.

  • Choosing an agent
    Questions to ask a sourcing agent in China before you sign

    A working list of questions on fees, scope, supplier relationships, quality checks and money handling to put to a China sourcing agent before you commit.

  • Cities
    What Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Foshan are officially recognised for

    The industries in Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Foshan named in China's official list of SME industrial clusters, 2022 to 2025, and what the list can and cannot tell a buyer.