Massive is the only way to describe fees being cut in half, or more if you file electronically, the reduction in the official trademark fees in China benefits all genuine rights holders. On June 19th, the China National IP Administration Trademark Office issued the reduction in fees taking effect July 1, 2019.
Not only did they cut the fees in half they also offer an additional 10% discount for filing electronically, a move that is surely for cost reduction administratively, but will certainly help the environment too when trademark filings in 2018 exceeded 7.3 million! In addition to the cost reduction for filing electronically they have completed waived the fees for changes of Agent, Applicant Name and Applicant Address when done online.
China has embraced IP recently and is executing one of the quickest turnarounds in history from a blatant infringer country to one taking the rights of genuine owners seriously. Long ways to go yet but everything that has been happening in the last few years has been a huge about face for China, which is great news for genuine rights holders around the world.