Review №41 of Chinese Antitrust News from the Experts of the BRICS Competition Centre
- Pricing Rules for Internet Platforms have been published
- Provisions on the Prohibition of Anti-Competitive Agreements have been updated
- Guidelines on utility service pricing
- 10th anniversary of the concept of a community with a shared future in cyberspace
- Fourth fine this year for unauthorized M&A
- A campaign to regulate product quality on marketplaces has been launched
Pricing Rules for Internet Platforms have been published
SAMR, together with the National Development and Reform Commission and the Cyberspace Administration, has published the Pricing Rules for Internet Platforms.
The document regulates price competition, protects the autonomy of merchants’ pricing policies, and provides additional safeguards for consumer rights. For example, platform operators are explicitly prohibited from imposing unreasonable restrictions on the pricing of goods and services offered by suppliers on the platform. At the same time, additional requirements are introduced for features such as password-free payments, automatic subscription renewals, and automatic deductions.
The Rules will enter into force on April 10, 2026, giving platforms sufficient time to adapt.
Источник: SAMR
Provisions on the Prohibition of Anti-Competitive Agreements have been updated
The revised version of the Provisions on the Prohibition of Anti-Competitive Agreements clarifies the criteria under which agreements are not subject to prohibition.
In particular, vertical agreements that fix or restrict resale prices are permitted if the market share of each party to the agreement in the relevant market is less than 5%, and the turnover of the goods covered by the agreement is less than RMB 100 million (approximately USD 14 million). Other vertical agreements are not prohibited if the market share of each party is less than 15%.
To demonstrate that an agreement meets the admissibility criteria, the following information must be provided:
- a detailed description of the process of concluding and implementing the agreement;
- shareholding structure of each party to the agreement, the relationships between the parties, and a description of their business activities in the relevant market;
- the market share and turnover of the goods covered by the agreement for each year during the term of the agreement.
These amendments further specify the “safe harbor” rule for anti-competitive agreements, which was introduced in a generalized form by the 2022 revision of the PRC Anti-Monopoly Law.
Sources: SAMR 1, SAMR 2, SAMR 3
Guidelines on utility service pricing
The utilities market has long been, and continues to be, one of the sectors most vulnerable to various abuses, particularly price manipulation. In order to address such violations, SAMR has issued Guidelines on Pricing Compliance for urban water, electricity, and gas service providers.
The Guidelines address issues such as non-compliance with state-regulated prices, passing operational costs on to consumers, charging unjustified fees, and other related practices.
It is emphasized that utility companies must apply state-set or state-recommended prices, as well as pricing preference policies and pricing differentiated by consumer category. The document also provides a detailed description of the potential risks that suppliers may face when charging fees for technical maintenance and when levying charges at the stages of application submission, inspection, and equipment connection.
Source: SAMR
10th Anniversary of the Concept of a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace
In 2015, Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a speech at the opening of the 2nd World Internet Conference. In his keynote address, he called for joint efforts to build a community with a shared future in cyberspace. Xi Jinping emphasized that the Internet is a common home for all humanity and that it is necessary to enhance connectivity in cyberspace while recognizing shared responsibility for ensuring that it benefits humankind.
On December 22, 2025, a seminar marking the 10th anniversary of this concept was held in Beijing. Participants noted the importance of actively implementing global initiatives on development, global security, global civilization, and global governance, adhering to the principle of mutually beneficial development, and striving to build a more prosperous and inclusive cyberspace.
Fourth fine this year for unauthorized M&A
SAMR imposed an antitrust fine on Zhejiang Talent Development Group Zhejiang and Zhejiang Public Information Industry for completing a merger without submitting a prior filing. This is the fourth case this year in China related to unauthorized economic concentration.
The investigation found that the transaction did not lead to the restriction or elimination of competition. In addition, both companies proactively contacted the regulator, reported their violation, and provided all required documents. In light of this, SAMR imposed a lighter penalty, with fines of USD 115,000 and USD 130,000, respectively.
Source: SAMR
A campaign to regulate product quality on marketplaces has been launched
To strengthen regulation of the platform economy, 15 government agencies, including SAMR, have jointly launched a campaign to monitor the quality and safety of industrial products sold online.
The campaign plan covers the period 2025–2027 and focuses on key products that generate numerous consumer complaints, as well as major online commerce operators. By the end of 2027, a long-term mechanism for quality and safety oversight is expected to be established. Considering the specifics of online sales, the plan proposes 11 targeted regulatory measures, including enhanced verification of product information sources, dynamic online inspections and monitoring, the creation of a database of organizations engaged in online marketing, and a system for monitoring online trade information, among others.
Source: SAMR
