China's Market Regulator Unveils Antitrust Crackdown on Pharma, Utilities, and Platform Economy
On September 20, China's State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) announced at a State Council press conference that it will intensify antitrust enforcement during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), targeting key livelihood sectors including active pharmaceutical ingredients, water, electricity, gas, heating, and the platform economy. SAMR also established a fair competition review system, pledging to curb "involutionary" low-price competition, streamline market entry and exit, and shift competition toward quality-based markets.
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China's Market Regulator Establishes Fair Competition Review, Targets Antitrust Enforcement in Key Sectors
On September 20, Shu Wei, spokesperson and deputy director of the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), stated at a State Council press conference that the agency has comprehensively used price enforcement, quality supervision, and standard-setting to combat malicious low-price and disorderly competition. Wang Guowei, director of SAMR's Planning and Finance Department, announced that the administration has established a fair competition review system. He said antitrust enforcement will increasingly focus on sectors such as active pharmaceutical ingredients, water, electricity, gas, heating, and the platform economy. Wang emphasized that competition policy should be the fundamental rule in all economic policies, requiring that industrial, investment, and fiscal policies all take fair competition as a prerequisite. He also pledged to improve the efficiency of merger review to facilitate lawful investment and acquisitions. For the 15th Five-Year Plan period, Shu Wei outlined three areas of focus: strengthening price enforcement by revising the Price Law and rules against predatory pricing; enhancing quality supervision through stricter product certification and risk monitoring; and intensifying anti-unfair competition enforcement, targeting false advertising, commercial defamation, and bribery. The measures aim to shift market competition from price-based to quality-based competition.
China's Market Regulator Establishes Fair Competition Review, Targets API Drugs and Platform Economy
On September 20, at a State Council Information Office press conference, Shu Wei, spokesperson and deputy director of the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), announced that the agency will comprehensively use price enforcement, quality supervision, and standards to combat malicious low-price and disorderly competition. Wang Guowei, director of SAMR's Planning and Finance Department, stated that the administration has established a fair competition review system. He said antitrust enforcement will focus more on active pharmaceutical ingredients (API), water, electricity, gas, heating, and the platform economy. Wang emphasized that competition policy must be the basic rule underlying all economic policies, and that all policy measures involving business activities must be assessed for their impact on fair competition to prevent artificial market barriers. He also pledged to improve the efficiency of merger review to facilitate lawful investment and acquisitions. Shu Wei outlined three areas for the '15th Five-Year Plan' period: strengthening price enforcement by revising the Price Law and rules against predatory pricing; strengthening quality supervision by tightening product access and increasing random checks on low-price, high-risk goods; and strengthening anti-unfair competition enforcement by focusing on false advertising, commercial defamation, and bribery, and by protecting trade secrets.
China's Market Regulator Establishes Fair Competition Review, Targets Antitrust Enforcement in Key Sectors
On September 20, at a State Council Information Office press conference, State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) spokesperson and deputy director Shu Wei announced measures to combat malicious low-price and disorderly competition through price enforcement, quality supervision, and standards guidance. SAMR Planning and Finance Director Wang Guowei stated that a fair competition review system has been established, emphasizing competition policy as the foundational rule in economic policies. Antitrust enforcement will focus more on sectors such as active pharmaceutical ingredients, water, electricity, heating, and platform economies. Wang said the administration will improve merger review efficiency, regularly issue risk warnings against improper market intervention, and strengthen enforcement against administrative monopolies. For the 15th Five-Year Plan period, Shu Wei outlined three priorities: strengthening price enforcement by revising the Price Law and rules against predatory pricing; enhancing quality supervision through product certification and risk monitoring; and intensifying anti-unfair competition enforcement targeting false advertising, commercial defamation, and bribery. The measures aim to shift market competition from price-based to quality-based competition.
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China's Market Regulator Establishes Fair Competition Review, Targets API, Utilities, Platform Economy
On September 20, at a State Council Information Office press conference, Shu Wei, spokesperson and deputy director of the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), announced that the agency has comprehensively used price enforcement, quality supervision, and standards to combat malicious low-price and disorderly competition. Wang Guowei, director of SAMR's Planning and Finance Department, stated that the administration has established a fair competition review system. He said anti-monopoly enforcement will focus more on sectors such as active pharmaceutical ingredients (API), water, electricity, gas, heating, and the platform economy, aiming to promote lawful and orderly investment and M&A. Wang emphasized strengthening competition policy as a fundamental rule, requiring all economic policies to assess their impact on fair competition to prevent artificial market barriers. SAMR will also intensify efforts to break local protection and market segmentation, issue risk warnings, and enhance merger review efficiency. For the '15th Five-Year Plan' period, Shu Wei outlined three areas to shift competition from price to quality: strengthening price enforcement by revising the price law and rules against predatory pricing, especially for internet platforms; enhancing quality supervision through stricter product certification and risk monitoring; and intensifying anti-unfair competition enforcement, targeting false advertising, commercial defamation, and bribery, while protecting trade secrets.
China's Market Regulator Establishes Fair Competition Review, Targets Antitrust in APIs, Platforms
On September 20, at a State Council Information Office press conference, State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) Deputy Director Shu Wei announced measures to combat malicious low-price and disorderly competition through price enforcement, quality supervision, and standards. SAMR Planning and Finance Director Wang Guowei stated that a fair competition review system has been established, with antitrust enforcement to focus on active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), utilities (water, electricity, gas, heating), and platform economies. Wang emphasized that competition policy will be the foundational rule in all economic policies, requiring assessments of fair competition impact for any policy involving business activities. SAMR will increase antitrust enforcement efficiency, break local protection and market segmentation, and issue risk warnings against improper market intervention. For the 15th Five-Year Plan period, Shu Wei outlined three priorities: strengthening price enforcement by revising the Price Law and rules against predatory pricing; enhancing quality supervision through stricter product certification and risk monitoring; and intensifying anti-unfair competition enforcement under the revised law, targeting false advertising, commercial defamation, and bribery. The regulator aims to shift market competition from price-based to quality-based competition.
Read sourceChina's Market Regulator Establishes Fair Competition Review, Targets Bulk Drugs and Platform Economy
On September 20, the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) held a press conference where officials outlined new measures to strengthen fair competition and antitrust enforcement. Deputy Director Shu Wei stated that the agency will use price enforcement, quality supervision, and standards to combat malicious low-price and disorderly competition. SAMR Planning and Finance Director Wang Guowei announced that a fair competition review system has been established, emphasizing competition policy as the foundational rule for all economic policies. Antitrust enforcement will focus on sectors including active pharmaceutical ingredients, utilities (water, electricity, gas, heating), and the platform economy. The agency plans to improve merger review efficiency, issue risk warnings against improper market intervention, and increase enforcement against administrative monopolies. For the 15th Five-Year Plan period, SAMR will shift market competition from price-based to quality-based competition through three pillars: strengthening price law enforcement (including revising anti-dumping regulations and implementing internet platform price rules), enhancing quality supervision (with increased inspections on low-price and high-risk products), and intensifying anti-unfair competition enforcement (targeting false advertising, commercial defamation, and bribery). The agency also aims to unify market access rules and improve the national standards system.
China's Market Regulator Sets 2030 Goals for Unified Market, Quality Competition, and Consumer Protection
On September 20, the State Council Information Office held a press conference where Shu Wei, spokesperson and Deputy Director of the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), outlined the agency's goals for the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030). The overall objective is to fully establish a unified, standardized, and efficient system for business entity entry and exit by 2030, enhance fair competition and anti-monopoly enforcement, and make significant progress in building a quality powerhouse. Key focus areas include improving mechanisms for business entity development, enhancing fair competition governance, optimizing consumer rights protection, strengthening quality technology infrastructure, refining safety supervision of food, pharmaceuticals, industrial products, and special equipment, and improving regulatory enforcement. Shu Wei emphasized shifting market competition from price wars to quality competition, noting a special campaign against inferior and low-priced goods that has already handled 29,000 cases. The SAMR also aims to create over 5,000 national 'reassuring consumption' zones by 2030, achieving full coverage in major cities to boost consumer confidence and satisfaction.
Read sourceChina to intensify antitrust enforcement in pharmaceuticals, utilities, and platform economy
At a September 20, 2026 press conference held by the State Council Information Office as part of the '15th Five-Year Plan' series, officials from China's State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) outlined intensified antitrust enforcement priorities. SAMR spokesperson Shu Wei stated that enforcement will strengthen rigid constraints on fair competition reviews, enhance monitoring of monopoly risks, and improve merger control reviews. Special focus will be placed on platform enterprises, with increased supervision over data, algorithms, rules, and traffic, and enforcement of 'gatekeeper' responsibilities. Wang Guowei, Director-General of SAMR's Department of Planning and Finance, emphasized that competition policy must serve as the foundational rule for all economic policies, including industrial, investment, and fiscal policies. He stated that all policy measures involving economic activities must undergo fair competition impact assessments. Enforcement will concentrate on key livelihood sectors including active pharmaceutical ingredients, water, electricity, gas, heating, and the platform economy, with every case investigated and results publicized. Officials also pledged to unify market institutional rules across market access, production, and consumption stages to support the unified national market.
Read sourceChina to Intensify Antitrust Enforcement on APIs, Utilities, and Platform Economy
At a September 20, 2026 press conference held by the State Council Information Office, officials from the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) outlined intensified antitrust enforcement priorities during China's '15th Five-Year Plan' period. SAMR spokesperson Shu Wei stated that efforts will strengthen fair competition review rigid constraints, improve monitoring and early warning of monopoly risks, and enhance merger control reviews. For platform enterprises, supervision over data, algorithms, rules, and traffic will be strengthened, and 'gatekeeper' responsibilities enforced. Wang Guowei, Director-General of SAMR's Department of Planning and Finance, emphasized that competition policy should be foundational, requiring all industrial, investment, and fiscal policies to undergo fair competition impact assessments. He noted that antitrust enforcement will focus on key livelihood sectors including active pharmaceutical ingredients, water, electricity, gas, heating, and the platform economy, with every case investigated and resolved cases promptly disclosed. Officials also pledged to unify market institutional rules, break local protectionism, and improve market access and national standards systems.
Read sourceChina to intensify antitrust enforcement in APIs, utilities, and platform economy
At a September 20, 2026 press conference held by the State Council Information Office as part of the '15th Five-Year Plan' series, SAMR Deputy Director Shu Wei and Planning and Finance Director-General Wang Guowei outlined intensified antitrust enforcement priorities. Shu Wei stated that efforts will strengthen fair competition review rigid constraints, improve monitoring and early warning of monopoly risks, and enhance merger control reviews. For platform enterprises, supervision over data, algorithms, rules, and traffic will be strengthened, and 'gatekeeper' responsibilities enforced. Wang Guowei emphasized that competition policy must serve as the foundational rule for all economic policies, including industrial, investment, and fiscal policies. He announced that antitrust enforcement will focus on key livelihood sectors such as active pharmaceutical ingredients, water, electricity, heating, and the platform economy, with every case investigated and results publicized. The officials also committed to unifying market institutional rules across access, production, and consumption stages to support a unified national market.
Read sourceChina to intensify antitrust enforcement in pharma, utilities, and platform economy
At a September 20, 2026, State Council Information Office press conference, SAMR officials outlined antitrust priorities for the 15th Five-Year Plan period. Spokesperson Shu Wei stated that enforcement will strengthen rigid constraints of fair competition review, enhance monitoring of monopoly risks, and improve merger control reviews. For platform enterprises, supervision over data, algorithms, rules, and traffic will be tightened, enforcing 'gatekeeper' responsibilities. Director-General Wang Guowei emphasized that competition policy must serve as the foundational rule for all economic policies, including industrial, investment, and fiscal policies. He noted that the fair competition review system now covers policy measures at all four government levels, with plans to further refine rules and enhance local government responsibilities. Antitrust enforcement will focus on key livelihood sectors such as active pharmaceutical ingredients, water, electricity, gas, heating, and the platform economy, with every case investigated and promptly published. Market regulatory authorities will also unify market institutional rules across entry, production, and circulation stages to support a unified national market.
Read sourceChina to Intensify Antitrust Enforcement on Pharma, Utilities, and Platform Economy
At a September 20, 2026 press conference held by the State Council Information Office as part of the '15th Five-Year Plan' briefings, State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) officials outlined intensified antitrust enforcement priorities. SAMR spokesperson Shu Wei stated that enforcement will strengthen fair competition review rigid constraints, improve monopoly risk monitoring, and enhance merger control reviews. For platform enterprises, supervision over data, algorithms, rules, and traffic will increase, with 'gatekeeper' responsibilities enforced. SAMR Planning and Finance Director-General Wang Guowei emphasized that competition policy must serve as the foundational rule underlying all economic policies, including industrial, investment, and fiscal policies. He announced that antitrust enforcement will focus more closely on key livelihood sectors: active pharmaceutical ingredients, water, electricity, gas, heating, and the platform economy, with every case investigated and details published promptly. Wang also stated that market regulatory authorities will unify market institutional rules across market access, production, and consumption stages to build a unified national market and break local protectionism.
Read sourceChina to intensify antitrust enforcement in pharmaceuticals, utilities, and platform economy
At a September 20, 2026 press conference held by the State Council Information Office as part of the '15th Five-Year Plan' series, SAMR officials outlined plans to strengthen antitrust enforcement. Shu Wei, SAMR spokesperson and Deputy Director, stated that efforts will focus on reinforcing fair competition review rigid constraints, improving review standardization, and curbing hidden market barriers. Enforcement will target monopoly and unfair competition, with enhanced monitoring of platform enterprises' data, algorithms, rules, and traffic to enforce 'gatekeeper' responsibilities. Wang Guowei, Director-General of SAMR's Department of Planning and Finance, emphasized that competition policy must serve as the foundational rule for all economic policies, including industrial, investment, and fiscal policies. He noted that the fair competition review system now covers policy measures at four government levels, and next steps include strengthening local review responsibilities and refining rules. Enforcement will prioritize key livelihood sectors such as active pharmaceutical ingredients, water, electricity, gas, heating, and the platform economy, with every case investigated and publicized. Wang also stressed unifying market institutional rules to ensure smooth resource flow and reduce transaction costs.
Read sourceChina to Strengthen Antitrust Enforcement on Platforms, Utilities During 15th Five-Year Plan
At a September 20, 2026 press conference, the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) outlined intensified antitrust and fair competition enforcement for China's 15th Five-Year Plan period. Spokesperson Shu Wei stated that the fair competition review system will be strengthened with rigid constraints, and anti-monopoly enforcement will focus on key livelihood areas including raw materials, water, electricity, heating, and the platform economy. SAMR will enhance monitoring and early warning of monopoly risks, using compliance guidelines and administrative guidance to stop violations early, while vowing to investigate all cases and announce them promptly. Director Wang Guowei emphasized that competition policy must become the basic rule underlying all economic policies, including industrial, investment, and fiscal policies. The department will also work to eliminate local protection and market segmentation, unify market system rules, and ensure consistent online and offline supervision. The goal is to build a unified, open, competitive, and orderly market system.
Read sourceChina to intensify antitrust enforcement in pharma, utilities, and platform economy
At a September 20, 2026 press conference, State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) officials outlined antitrust enforcement priorities for China's 15th Five-Year Plan period. Spokesperson Shu Wei stated that enforcement will strengthen fair competition review rigid constraints, improve monopoly risk monitoring, and enhance merger control reviews. For platform enterprises, supervision over data, algorithms, rules, and traffic will be tightened, with 'gatekeeper' responsibilities enforced. Director-General Wang Guowei emphasized competition policy's foundational status, requiring all industrial, investment, and fiscal policies to undergo fair competition impact assessments. Enforcement will focus on key livelihood sectors including active pharmaceutical ingredients, water, electricity, gas, heating, and the platform economy, with every case investigated and publicized. Authorities will also unify market institutional rules across access, production, and consumption stages to build a unified national market and break local protectionism.
Read sourceChina to Intensify Antitrust Enforcement on APIs, Utilities, and Platform Economy
At a September 20, 2026, press conference as part of the '15th Five-Year Plan' series, the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) outlined intensified antitrust enforcement priorities. SAMR spokesperson Shu Wei stated that efforts will strengthen fair competition review rigid constraints, curb hidden market barriers, and improve merger control reviews. For platform enterprises, supervision over data, algorithms, rules, and traffic will be tightened, enforcing 'gatekeeper' responsibilities. SAMR Planning and Finance Director-General Wang Guowei emphasized competition policy's foundational status, requiring all industrial, investment, and fiscal policies to undergo fair competition impact assessments. He noted the fair competition review system now covers all four levels of government, with next steps focusing on local government accountability and rule refinement. Antitrust enforcement will specifically target key livelihood sectors: active pharmaceutical ingredients, water, electricity, gas, heating, and the platform economy, with every case investigated and details published. Wang stated that while enforcement intensity remains high, greater emphasis will be placed on monitoring, early warning, and compliance guidance to stop monopolistic behaviors before they occur, but persistent violators will face investigation. Market regulatory authorities will also unify market institutional rules across access, production, and consumption stages to support a unified national market.
Read sourceChina to Intensify Antitrust Enforcement in Pharma, Utilities, and Platform Economy
At a September 20, 2026 press conference held by the State Council Information Office as part of the '15th Five-Year Plan' series, officials from the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) outlined intensified antitrust enforcement priorities. SAMR spokesperson Shu Wei stated that enforcement will strengthen rigid constraints on fair competition review, improve monitoring and early warning of monopoly risks, and enhance merger control reviews. For platform enterprises, supervision over data, algorithms, rules, and traffic will be strengthened, and 'gatekeeper' responsibilities enforced. Wang Guowei, Director-General of the Department of Planning and Finance, emphasized that competition policy must serve as the foundational rule for all economic policies, including industrial, investment, and fiscal policies. He stated that antitrust enforcement will focus on key livelihood sectors such as active pharmaceutical ingredients, water, electricity, gas, heating, and the platform economy, with every case investigated and publicized. The officials also discussed unifying market institutional rules to build a unified national market, including rules for enterprise establishment, national standards, and online trading supervision.
Read sourceChina to intensify antitrust enforcement in pharmaceuticals, utilities, and platform economy
At a September 20, 2026 press conference held by the State Council Information Office, officials from the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) outlined antitrust enforcement priorities for China's 15th Five-Year Plan period. SAMR spokesperson Shu Wei stated that enforcement will strengthen rigid constraints on fair competition reviews, curb hidden market barriers, and enhance supervision over platform enterprises' data, algorithms, rules, and traffic. Wang Guowei, Director-General of the Department of Planning and Finance, emphasized that competition policy must serve as the foundational rule for all economic policies, including industrial, investment, and fiscal policies. He noted that the fair competition review system now covers policy measures at all four government levels. Enforcement will focus on key livelihood sectors such as active pharmaceutical ingredients, water, electricity, gas, heating, and the platform economy, with all cases investigated and disclosed. Officials stressed unified market institutions to reduce transaction costs and promote resource flows, including unified rules for enterprise establishment, production standards, and online trading supervision.
Read sourceChina's antitrust enforcement to focus on APIs, utilities, platform economy with mandatory case investigations
On September 20, 2026, the State Council Information Office held a press conference on the '15th Five-Year Plan' period. Market Regulation Administration Deputy Director Shu Wei stated that the agency will strengthen fair competition review, enhance antitrust and anti-unfair competition enforcement, and improve monitoring of monopoly risks. Specifically for platform enterprises, regulation of data, algorithms, rules, and traffic will be tightened, and platform 'gatekeeper' responsibilities will be enforced. Planning and Finance Department Director Wang Guowei emphasized that competition policy will be the foundational rule in all economic policies, and all policies involving business activities must be assessed for their impact on fair competition. Antitrust enforcement will focus on key livelihood sectors including active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), water, electricity, gas, heating, and the platform economy, with mandatory case investigations and public disclosure of results. The agency will also strengthen local government review responsibilities, break local protection and market segmentation, and unify market rules across access, production, circulation, and consumption to support the construction of a unified national market.
Read sourceChina to intensify antitrust enforcement in pharma, utilities, and platform economy
At a September 20, 2026, State Council Information Office press conference, SAMR officials outlined antitrust enforcement priorities for the 15th Five-Year Plan period. Spokesperson Shu Wei stated that fair competition review rigid constraints will be strengthened, and supervision over platform enterprises' data, algorithms, rules, and traffic will be enhanced. Director-General Wang Guowei emphasized that competition policy must serve as the foundational rule for all economic policies, including industrial, investment, and fiscal policies. He noted that antitrust enforcement will focus on key livelihood sectors such as active pharmaceutical ingredients, water, electricity, gas, heating, and the platform economy, with every case investigated and publicized. Wang also stated that market regulatory authorities will unify market institutional rules across entry, production, and consumption stages to build a unified national market. The officials stressed balancing regulation with development, using compliance guidance and warning interviews to prevent monopolistic conduct before it occurs, while intensifying enforcement against administrative abuse of power and local protectionism.
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