China Issues New Guidelines to Promote Trade and Commerce

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce and five other government departments issued guidelines on April 6, 2026, to advance the high-quality development of the e-commerce sector. The initiative is designed to strengthen the role of e-commerce in supporting the real economy.

The guidelines focus on deepening the integration of the digital and real economies. Key priorities include empowering rural areas and small and medium-sized enterprises through e-commerce platforms, boosting industrial digitalization and utilizing technological innovation to enhance the quality of consumption.

Cross-Border Trade and International Alignment

A significant component of the new guidelines involves expanding high-standard opening up. The government intends to advance the Silk Road e-commerce initiative and promote cross-border e-commerce.

The Ministry of Commerce stated that these efforts aim for greater alignment with international rules, specifically within the realm of digital trade. These guidelines were released following visits by European Union lawmakers.

Regulatory Context and Compliance Shifts

The push for high-quality development occurs alongside a broader shift in China’s trade regulatory environment. Effective October 1, 2025, China enacted a comprehensive overhaul of its export compliance regulations, underpinned by Announcement No. 8 and Announcement No. 17 of 2025.

This regulatory shift ended the use of informal “grey” clearance practices, such as the practice of manufacturers using third-party export licenses to ship goods internationally. The current system mandates a direct and verifiable link between the manufacturer, the exporter, and the goods being shipped.

The transition to a real-name, data-driven tax supervision system impacts various stakeholders in the global supply chain, including international freight forwarders, importers, and cross-border e-commerce platforms.

Strategic Objectives for the E-commerce Sector

The guidelines issued on April 6, 2026, call for a balance between the promotion of the sector and regulatory oversight. By focusing on the “real economy,” the government seeks to ensure that digital trade growth translates into tangible industrial and economic support.

• Empowerment of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
• Integration of e-commerce into rural development.
• Acceleration of industrial digitalization.
• Advancement of the Silk Road e-commerce initiative.
• Alignment of digital trade practices with international standards.

These measures are intended to move the sector beyond simple transaction growth toward a model based on technological innovation and high-standard openness.