Anti-Monopoly Law of the People's Republic of China

Adopted by the Standing Committee of the 10th National People's Congress on 30 August 2007 and effective 1 August 2008, this is China's primary competition-law statute, enacted to prevent and restrain monopoly, protect fair competition, encourage innovation and safeguard the interests of consumers and the public. Enforcement has centralized in the State Administration for Market Regulation since 2018. A first amendment, adopted 24 June 2022 and effective 1 August 2022, added a merger-review stop-the-clock mechanism, a safe harbor for certain vertical agreements, platform-specific competition rules, and substantially increased penalties, including individual liability for those who organize or facilitate monopoly agreements.

This Law is enacted for the purpose of preventing and restraining monopoly, protecting fair competition in the market, encouraging innovation, enhancing economic efficiency, safeguarding the interests of consumers and the public, and promoting the healthy development of the socialist market economy, per Article 1 of the statute.