Shanghai FTZ Cuts 'Negative List,' but Critics Unimpressed

(Beijing) – The Shanghai Free Trade Zone (FTZ) has cut down on the number of restrictions on its "negative list" for foreign investment following government pledges to woo investors, but many critics say the changes are not very meaningful.

The new list, published on July 1, features 139 items that are off-limit or restricted to foreign investments.

The idea of regulating foreign investments through a negative list has been hailed by many analysts as progress because it means investors are free to do whatever is not explicitly restricted instead of having to grope their way through gray areas.