China: State Administration for Market Regulation closes consultation on draft regulations on supervision and administration of online trading platform rules including unilateral conduct regulation

On 4 July 2025, the State Administration for Market Regulation closes its public consultation on the Draft Regulations on Supervision and Administration of Online Trading Platform Rules. The draft establishes requirements on how online trading platforms adopt and revise their terms of use. It mandates the public disclosure of platform rules, a minimum seven-day feedback period before implementing changes, and clear communication of rule modifications to users. The draft establishes protections for business users, prohibiting unreasonable restrictions such as unfair after-sales obligations, compulsory value-added services, mandatory promotional activities, and interference with independent pricing decisions. It also prohibits certain fee practices, including duplicate charges, inadequate service provision, shifting costs to merchants, fees for access to basic business data, price discrimination, and non-transparent deposit requirements. In addition, the draft introduces standards for fair penalties, requiring that they be reasonable, based on clear calculation methods.