If your brand is heading into Southeast Asia, the first step is usually protecting your trademark and geographical indications; and for Chinese companies going global, few things are more painful than a patent getting “stuck” in overseas examination with no grant in sight. In late September 2026, a meeting in Beijing pressed the accelerator on China–Thailand intellectual property (IP) cooperation — with a geographical-indication (GI) mutual-protection pilot and the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) moving forward at the same time.
1. Background: A Bilateral Meeting Focused on Practical Results
On 22 September 2026, Chen Fuli, Party Secretary of the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), met in Beijing with a delegation led by Oramon Sitthiwetwathanakul, Director-General of the Intellectual Property Department of Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce. The two sides exchanged views on their respective IP protection systems, the China–Thailand “3+3” GI mutual-protection pilot project, and broader bilateral cooperation.
Building on the long-standing “China–Thailand, one family” friendship, the two offices have already delivered practical results under bilateral, China–ASEAN and Belt and Road frameworks. The signal from this meeting is clear: China–Thailand IP cooperation is moving from building mechanisms to producing results.
2. Focus One: The “3+3” Geographical Indication Mutual-Protection Pilot
What is a GI? A geographical indication identifies goods that originate from a specific region and whose quality, reputation or other characteristics are essentially attributable to that region’s natural or human factors (Article 16 of China’s Trademark Law). It protects the collective reputation of a place rather than a single company — for example, tea, fruit or handicrafts from a particular producing area.
What does “3+3” mean? Each side selects three GI products to be mutually recognised and protected in the other country. For exporters, this means Thai jasmine rice or rubber products can enjoy GI protection in China, while Chinese regional specialities can receive reciprocal protection in Thailand.
What it means for companies: Businesses planning to export GI products should secure rights and run a compliance assessment in the target country in advance, so that a well-known local speciality is not hijacked or free-ridden by others after arrival.
3. Focus Two: Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) Cooperation
What is the PPH? The Patent Prosecution Highway lets an applicant use a grant decision or a positive examination opinion from a first office of filing to request accelerated examination at another office, shortening the examination cycle for the later application.
Why China–Thailand PPH matters: When filing patents in Thailand, Chinese companies can request faster examination based on a grant or favourable examination result already obtained from CNIPA — and vice versa. This can significantly cut the time and cost of a cross-border patent portfolio.
A practical note: The PPH is not a guarantee of grant. It speeds up the pace of examination, not the outcome; applicants must still ensure novelty, inventive step, and clear and complete claims.
4. Practical Advice for Companies Going Global
The warming of China–Thailand IP cooperation offers three takeaways for companies targeting Southeast Asian markets:
- Trademarks first: before entering the Thai market, run a trademark search and file early to avoid your brand being registered by others.
- Assess GI: if your product has regional characteristics, evaluate whether the GI mutual-protection channel can amplify its origin premium.
- Use the PPH: when you need protection in both countries, use the PPH to shorten the grant cycle and save costs.
For a further assessment of your outbound IP strategy, you may contact Hefei Zhihaiyida Patent Agency (Institution Code 34408). We also offer practical tools such as Chinese patent annuity monitoring and trademark class lookup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is a geographical indication (GI), and how does it differ from trademark protection?
A: A GI protects product characteristics tied to the collective reputation of a region and can be used by multiple parties; a trademark protects a specific party’s brand sign and is exclusive. The two can protect the same product together.
Q: What does the China–Thailand “3+3” GI mutual-protection pilot mean for exporters?
A: GI products from each side can obtain reciprocal protection in the other country, reducing the risk of squatting or counterfeiting and enhancing the origin brand premium.
Q: How much time can the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) save?
A: The PPH mainly shortens the examination cycle — generally faster than ordinary examination — but it does not change the substantive conditions for grant. The exact speed-up varies by case and jurisdiction.
Q: For a Chinese company entering Thailand, what IP preparations should come first?
A: Prioritise trademark search and filing, assess GI mutual protection, use the PPH for core patents, and plan annuity and enforcement strategies early.
Source: China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), official news, 2026-09-28. Original: CNIPA official website. This article is a news commentary for reference only and does not constitute official interpretation or legal advice.
Note: This article introduces the intellectual property system of the People’s Republic of China (China). For the latest official provisions, please refer to the competent authorities.