China: State Administration for Market Regulation rules on internet platform pricing behaviour including anti-competitive agreements regulation

On 10 April 2026, the rules on internet platform pricing behaviour issued by the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), and the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) come into force. Under Article 16 and in accordance with the Price Law of China, platform operators and businesses operating on the platform are prohibited from using platform rules, data, or algorithms to collude on price manipulation, thereby infringing upon the lawful rights of other businesses and consumers. A platform’s long-term free business model may be exempt from this rule if it promotes innovation and improves welfare. Interpretive authority primarily rests with the NDRC, SAMR, and CAC. The regulations will remain in force for five years.