Doing business in Singapore for clients from China

A base for Southeast Asia and for family wealth

Manufacturers and technology groups from China often look to Singapore when they build operations across ASEAN, using a regional holding company for those subsidiaries. Founders and families come for other reasons. Family offices with wealth from China have been part of Singapore’s recent growth, which makes source-of-wealth documents a practical topic from the first bank meeting. The tie is an old one, as the chapter on clan, kongsi and credit shows. The China Desk covers these points in more detail.

Tax treaty and trade agreements

Singapore and China have a comprehensive double taxation agreement in force, modified by the Multilateral Instrument, in a text dated 1 September 2022. The China-Singapore Free Trade Agreement dates from January 2009, with upgrades in October 2019 and on 31 December 2024. The ASEAN-China agreement has covered goods since July 2005 and services since July 2007. RCEP has applied since 1 January 2022.

Below you will find the articles written for clients from China as they are published, followed by the sections of the book Singapore as an International Financial Centre. Your own lawyers advise you on the law of China.