Opinion: China’s New Trade Law Emphasizes Open Doors, and Sharp Teeth
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The latest update to China’s Foreign Trade Law aims to bring the country’s trade regime in line with global rules, boosting digital and green trade, while also expanding Beijing’s legal power to retaliate if necessary.
The 14th National People’s Congress Standing Committee has passed a comprehensive revision of the Foreign Trade Law, marking a legislative pivot toward a “strong trading nation” strategy. The revised law, which emphasizes “institutional opening-up,” represents a critical step in Beijing’s effort to anchor its modernization drive in high-standard global engagement.
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- China’s revised Foreign Trade Law, effective March 1, 2024, expands to 11 chapters and 83 articles, emphasizing institutional openness and alignment with global standards.
- Key features include a mandatory trade policy compliance mechanism, a statutory negative list for cross-border services, and support for digital, green, and service-oriented trade.
- The law strengthens national security measures, expands trade remedies, and permits countermeasures if international treaty dispute mechanisms fail.
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What Happened When
- 1994：
- The Foreign Trade Law was originally enacted.
- 2004：
- The Foreign Trade Law was overhauled to facilitate China’s entry into the WTO.
- 2016：
- The Foreign Trade Law received minor amendments.
- 2022：
- The Foreign Trade Law received minor amendments.
- 2024：
- The General Office of the State Council issued an opinion on high-quality service trade, referenced in the context of the new law’s provisions.
- Dec. 18, 2025：
- The Hainan Free Trade Port officially launched islandwide customs closure operations.
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