Review № 30 of Chinese Antitrust News from the Experts of the BRICS Competition Centre
- Investigation into the Livestream Marketing Platform
- "Educational Talk" with the Carrier Huolala
- 2024 Report on Price Supervision and Anti-Unfair Competition Efforts
- Standards for Filing M&A Applications Published
- Draft: Key Regulatory Requirements for Food Delivery Services
- Plan for Building a China-Africa Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace (2025–2026)
- Keysight Technologies + Spirent Communications Deal Approved with Conditions
- Platforms Disrupting the Information Ecosystem
- Ninth Lecture on Antitrust Compliance
Investigation into the Livestream Marketing Platform
China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) has initiated an investigation into Chengdu Kuaigou Technology, an internet shopping platform owned by Kuaishou, a major Chinese short-video hosting service. According to the regulator, the suspected violation concerns improper practices in livestream marketing. Livestream sales are a popular form of online commerce in China. However, as this format is still relatively new, its regulatory framework remains under development. If the platform is found to be in violation, penalties will be imposed in accordance with the E-Commerce Law of the People’s Republic of China.
According to the authority, in the first half of 2025, goods worth over USD 1.02 trillion were sold online in China, with a significant share coming from livestream marketing. Nonetheless, two key problems continue to affect the sector: false advertising (misleading information about products or services, their producers, features, functions, quality, origin, awards, licenses, sales volumes, transactions, user reviews, etc.) and the sale of counterfeit or substandard goods.
"Educational Talk" with the Carrier Huolala
Huolala is one of the most popular ride-hailing platforms in China. During a meeting with representatives of the company, the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) demanded strict compliance with the Anti-Monopoly Law of the People’s Republic of China, fair participation in market competition, protection of the legitimate rights and interests of truck drivers, consumers, and other stakeholders, as well as the promotion of fair, impartial, and transparent platform rules and algorithms.
In response, Huolala stated that it would fully implement the required corrective measures: “This interview served as a serious warning and a lesson for the company. We intend to draw the necessary conclusions.”
2024 Report on Price Supervision and Anti-Unfair Competition Efforts
SAMR has released a bilingual version (in Chinese and English) of the 2024 Annual Report on Price Supervision and Anti-Unfair Competition Law Enforcement. According to the report, a total of 38,600 cases were initiated over the past year, resulting in fines and confiscations amounting to approximately USD 430 million.
Significant efforts were made to eliminate unlawful charges imposed on businesses, aiming to reduce their financial burden. As a result, around USD 190.4 million was returned to enterprises.
Source: SAMR
Standards for Filing M&A Applications Published
Since filing a notification is a relatively complex procedure, the vast majority of companies have expressed a strong desire to receive comprehensive and detailed guidance to help accelerate the process of obtaining antitrust approval. In response to this demand from market participants, the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) has developed a new industry standard — the Guidelines for Filing Notifications of Concentrations of Business Operators. This document consolidates previously scattered instructions, recent legal updates, and information on review practices.
The guidelines:
- Specify the conditions under which companies are required to file a notification;
- Clearly list the documents and materials that must be submitted as part of the filing;
- Outline the procedures for preparing and submitting the documents, as well as the subsequent review and verification process.
Sources: SAMR 1, SAMR 2, SAMR 3
Draft: Key Regulatory Requirements for Food Delivery Services
SAMR has released a draft document for public consultation titled “Key Requirements for the Regulation of Online Food Delivery Platform Services.” This signals the upcoming introduction of a national standard aimed at regulating the operations of internet-based food delivery platforms and improving service quality across the industry.
The draft addresses several widely discussed issues in the food delivery sector, including “involution” (neijuan)–style competition, non-transparent and unreasonable pricing, “phantom deliveries,” and the lack of adequate protection for couriers’ rights. Specifically, the document includes requirements for:
- Public disclosure of service fees;
- The establishment of a clear mechanism for restaurant access to platforms;
- Rules for conducting promotional campaigns and applying discounts.
Leading online food delivery platforms in China participated in the development of the draft, allowing them early insight into its content and the opportunity to begin preparing for its implementation.
As part of efforts to support the healthy development of the industry, on September 26, SAMR held a meeting with representatives from restaurants and couriers registered on food delivery platforms. The purpose was to discuss the proposed standard, hear about the challenges faced by business operators and workers, and gather their feedback and suggestions.
Plan for Building a China-Africa Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace (2025–2026)
The initiative for a China-Africa community with a shared future in cyberspace was first proposed back in 2021. Now, within the framework of China-Africa cooperation, a more detailed plan has been put forward for the coming year. It includes:
- Development of the digital economy (building telecommunications infrastructure, enabling Chinese internet companies to enter the African market, strengthening exchanges and cooperation in the field of e-commerce);
- Cybersecurity (joint response to incidents, improving data security and cross-border data exchange);
- Development of digital skills (training specialists, conducting educational programs and exchanges, deepening academic dialogue);
- AI governance (exploring opportunities, preventing risks, joint participation in the development of regulatory frameworks);
- Cooperation in online media.
The plan aims to further deepen practical cooperation with African countries in the digital sphere and jointly build a more fair and rational, open and inclusive, secure, stable, and sustainable cyberspace. China welcomes the support and participation of African nations.
Text of the plan in English: https://www.cac.gov.cn/2025-09/28/c_17606067131696...
Source: CAC
Keysight Technologies + Spirent Communications Deal Approved with Conditions
The State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) has approved the acquisition of Spirent Communications by Keysight Technologies with restrictive conditions. The authority determined that the transaction would further strengthen Keysight’s control over the global and Chinese markets for high-speed Ethernet network testing and network security products.
Considering the potential negative impact on competition, SAMR required the divestiture of Spirent’s business related to high-speed Ethernet and network security testing to VIAVI Solutions. This includes all assets and personnel necessary to maintain the current operations of the business or to ensure its continued existence and competitiveness.
Platforms Disrupting the Information Ecosystem
The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) has issued warnings to several internet platforms — including short video hosting service Kuaishou, microblogging site Weibo, news portal Jinri Toutiao, and the UCWeb browser. The platforms are accused of "disrupting the online ecosystem," specifically by capitalizing on trending gossip and promoting news related to violence and other undesirable content. According to the warnings, such content was featured in “top search” rankings or pinned to the platforms’ homepages. The authority stated that it had held “educational talks” with the platforms, demanded that the violations be rectified, and imposed strict administrative penalties on the individuals responsible
Earlier, in response to complaints about the Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book — often referred to as China's version of Instagram) platform, the CAC instructed the municipal agency in Shanghai to conduct an educational talk with the platform and to set clear deadlines for addressing the violations..
Sources: CAC 1, CAC 2, CAC 3, CAC 4
Ninth Lecture on Antitrust Compliance
On September 22, the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) held its ninth lecture of the year on antitrust compliance, focusing on the theme: “Strengthening Antitrust Compliance in the Funeral Services Sector.” This sector is known for frequent violations, as funeral rituals often involve traditional beliefs and provide opportunities for large-scale profiteering — for instance, unjustified price hikes. During the lecture, SAMR officials analyzed existing regulatory norms and discussed specific cases as representative examples of anti-competitive practices.
Source: WeChat
