China: State Administration for Market Regulation adopted measures for implementation of fair competition review regulations

On 28 February 2025, the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) adopted the measures for the implementation of fair competition review regulations. The regulations aim to provide detailed implementation rules for the Fair Competition Review Regulations introduced in June 2024, ensuring the enforcement of fair competition principles across all government policies and practices. The regulations include guidelines for conducting fair competition reviews of policies affecting business operations, ensuring that such policies do not restrict market entry, hinder the free flow of goods and factors, or provide unfair advantages to specific business operators. The State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) oversees this process, with local market regulation departments responsible for implementation within their regions. The measures mandate that policies must not set illegal approval procedures, grant exclusive operating rights, or interfere with market-regulated prices, and they outline procedures for soliciting opinions, conducting reviews, and handling violations. The measures would later enter into force 20 April 2025.