How do I choose the company's English name? What should I know about import/export registration?

Companies that need customs clearance or overseas payments must first complete importer/exporter registration, which gives the company an official English name. The naming rules:

Formula: main body of the English name + entity type suffix, for example "Harmony Co., Ltd.".

What counts as a different name?

• Different main body → different name.
• Same main body plus a different business type or distinguishing words → considered different, e.g. "Harmony Co., Ltd." vs "Harmony Design Co., Ltd.".
• Differences only in case, abbreviation, spacing, symbols or entity suffix → considered the same, e.g. "Harmony Co., Ltd.", "HARMONY Co., Ltd." and "Harmony Corp." are all one name.

Characters: only half-width English letters; no full-width or other alphabets.

Entity suffix: limited companies and companies limited by shares usually use Co., Ltd.; businesses often use Company, Co. or Studio. The full mapping is in the Trade Administration's importer/exporter registration regulations, and you can check the Trade Administration website for existing English names to avoid conflicts.