MLex: The Chinese government attaches great importance to and protects data privacy and security under the law and has never and will never require companies or individuals to collect or store data illegally, according to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning. Mao made the remarks when responding to a media inquiry about a new Irish probe against Chinese social-media platform TikTok. Mao stressed that China expects the European side to honor market-economy principles and ensure fair competition by offering a business environment that is equitable, impartial and non-discriminatory. TikTok is facing a new probe by the Irish privacy watchdog into its storage of EU users’ personal data on China-based servers after an initial inquiry into data transfers from the EU resulted in a €530m fine.

The International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) has updated its list of Contracting States and measures taken by them for the purposes of the ICSID Convention. The updated list confirms that China has designated the Beijing No. 4 Intermediate People’s Court as the competent domestic court for the recognition and enforcement of ICSID awards. The ICSID Convention entered into force for China on 6 February 1993. Under Article 54(2), each Contracting State must designate a competent court or other authority to which a party seeking recognition or enforcement may submit a certified copy of an ICSID award. The designation therefore identifies the Chinese court to which such applications should be made. However, the ICSID publication does not specify the domestic procedures that the court will apply or address the separate question of immunity from execution against foreign state assets.

MLex: China's Ministry of Commerce filed on 9 August 2024 a complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO) over the EU's provisional tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has announced that China has initiated dispute settlement consultations with Canada concerning Canadian measures affecting imports of certain steel and aluminium goods. The request relates to Canada’s application of a 50% surtax in the form of tariff rate quotas (TRQs) on steel products from non-free trade agreement (non-FTA) partners including China, and a 25% surtax on goods containing steel melted and poured in China or aluminium smelted and cast in China. China claims these measures restrict market access and discriminate against Chinese-origin inputs.

The People's Republic of China has filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO) regarding the EU’s anti-subsidy investigation on imported battery electric vehicles from the country and the subsequent imposition of provisional countervailing duties on the targeted vehicles. China claimed that the measures seem to be inconsistent with Article VI of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 and other provisions of the WTO's Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures.

China has initiated a World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute consultations request with the United States on 28 March 2024 regarding certain tax credits under the US Inflation Reduction Act that seeks to promote the production of electric vehicles and renewable energy projects. China claims these US credits are contingent on the use of domestic over imported goods or discriminate against goods of Chinese origin in violation of provisions under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994, the Agreement on Trade-Related Investment Measures and the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures. The parties now have 60 days to discuss the matter and to find a satisfactory solution without proceeding further with litigation. Afterwards, if consultations have failed to resolve the dispute, China may request adjudication by a panel.

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has received a request from China for dispute consultations with Türkiye concerning trade measures on imports of electric vehicles and other vehicles originating from China. China claims that Türkiye’s measures, including additional duties, import certificate requirements, and exemptions related to investment certificates, violate provisions of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 and the Agreement on Trade-Related Investment Measures. The request was circulated to WTO members on 11 October 2024. If consultations fail to resolve the issue within 60 days, China may request the establishment of a panel.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has announced that China is initiating a dispute complaint over the EU' imposition of definitive countervailing duties on new battery electric vehicles (BEVs) from China. China claims that these duties are inconsistent with the WTO's Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures and Article VI of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994. If the dispute is not resolved within 60 days, China may request adjudication by a panel.

MLex: Smart terminals, applications and application-distribution platforms in China have been targeted by a set of guidelines on the construction of a 'minor mode' aimed at optimising online content and preventing Internet addiction among minors. The guidelines, drafted by the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), establish a framework for the construction of the settings, with obligations placed on three terminals.

MLex: US exports to China will face an additional import tariff of 34% starting 10 April 2025 as part of China's barrage of retaliatory measures against President Trump's 'reciprocal tariffs' announced on 2 April 2025. China has also filed another complaint at the World Trade Organization, initiated enforcement actions against US companies and issued a series of other decisions aimed at restricting the access of US companies to the Chinese market.

NOTE–to see whether notification thresholds in China and throughout the world are met, see further: Where to Notify. 1. Have there been any recent developments regarding the China merger control regime and are there any updates/developments expected in the coming year? Are there any other ‘hot’ merger control issues in China? On 18 November 2021, the State Anti-Monopoly Bureau (the SAMR) was officially listed, and the anti-monopoly law enforcement agency was upgraded from a department under the SAMR to a national bureau managed by a ministry and commission under the State Council, which is a deputy ministerial-level unit. Previously, anti-monopoly regulations in China were managed by the State Council and run by three departments under the Ministry of Commerce, the National Development and Reform Commission, and the former State Administration for Industry and Commerce. After the 2018 institution reform, this was assigned to the SAMR and its anti-monopoly department. SAMR’s anti-monopoly department has been elevated to the deputy ministerial-level State Anti-Monopoly Bureau, which shares the same address as the SAMR. The higher-ranking authority is intended to assist

China has introduced a landmark overhaul of its arbitration framework with the release of the 2025 PRC Arbitration Law, marking the first major revision since the legislation was originally enacted. The reforms, due to take effect on 1 March 2026, aim to modernise arbitral practice and strengthen China’s position as a venue for international dispute resolution. Gustavo Moser and Jennifer Puntis from LexisNexis Arbitration UK have invited Jue Jun Lu, Partner at Charles Russell Speechlys LLP, to comment on the implications of the new law and its reception among arbitration practitioners.