BUSINESS

China Takes Aim at Online Platforms’ Monopolistic Practices

Published: Feb. 14, 2026 5:05 p.m. GMT+8

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China’s top market regulator has released anti-monopoly compliance guidelines for online platforms, taking aim at practices designed to eliminate fair competition.

The guidelines, issued Friday by the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), identify eight high-risk, anti-competitive behaviors, including algorithmic collusion, forced exclusivity deals, price discrimination and selling below cost.

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China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) released anti-monopoly guidelines targeting eight high-risk behaviors by online platforms, including forced exclusivity and price discrimination.
The guidelines shift Beijing’s approach from targeted crackdowns to clearer, long-term compliance rules, focusing on fair competition and curbing excessive competition among internet platforms.
Heightened scrutiny is impacting the food delivery sector, with regulators instructing platforms to halt below-cost sales and excessive price competition.

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Who’s Who

JD.com: JD.com was urged by the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) to compete rationally. This occurred during meetings months before the State Council's anti-monopoly and anti-unfair competition commission announced an investigation into market competition in the food delivery sector. The SAMR's new anti-monopoly guidelines aim to curb practices like forced exclusivity and price discrimination, which Beijing views as harmful to smaller businesses.

Meituan: Meituan is a Chinese e-commerce platform that was urged by the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) to compete rationally. The SAMR's recent anti-monopoly guidelines are a renewed effort to rein in excessive competition among internet platforms like Meituan.

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