Cross-border e-commerce retail imports are regulated as “personal self-use inbound articles,” not general trade — meaning no first-import licence, registration, or filing is required for list goods, but the model is capped at personal use and cannot be resold domestically. … Compliance Roadmap for Foreign Brands Entering China via E-Commerce Platforms (2026)Read more
FDI
Cross-Border E-Commerce Pilot Zones and Retail Import List Management
China’s cross-border e-commerce (CBEC) runs on a nationwide network of Comprehensive Pilot Zones — now 175-plus covering all provinces — and a positive-list regime that defines which goods may enter via the retail-import channel. 中国跨境电商依托覆盖全国的跨境电子商务综合试验区网络（现175个以上、覆盖所有省份）运行，并以正面清单界定哪些商品可经零售进口通道入境。 The retail-import positive list sets … Cross-Border E-Commerce Pilot Zones and Retail Import List ManagementRead more
China’s Livestream E-commerce Supervision Measures in Force from 1 February 2026: Four Categories of Duty-Bearers, AI Virtual Host Labelling and Traffic-Based Enforcement
China’s first dedicated livestream e-commerce regulation — SAMR and CAC Order No. 117, published on 18 December 2025 — takes effect on 1 February 2026. 中国首部直播电商领域专门规章——市场监管总局、国家网信办令第117号，2025年12月18日公布——自2026年2月1日起施行。 The Measures divide the industry into four duty-bearers: platform operators, livestream room operators, livestream … China’s Livestream E-commerce Supervision Measures in Force from 1 February 2026: Four Categories of Duty-Bearers, AI Virtual Host Labelling and Traffic-Based EnforcementRead more
FTZ Data-Export Negative Lists Accelerate: Beijing, Hengqin, Chongqing and Nansha Go Live
China’s free-trade-zone (FTZ) data-export negative-list mechanism is moving from policy design to live, enforceable cases. 自贸试验区数据出境负面清单机制正从制度设计走向可落地的实际案例。 Beijing, Hengqin (Guangdong), Chongqing and Nansha (Guangzhou) have each recorded its first negative-list data-export case. 北京、横琴（广东）、重庆、南沙（广州）均已出现首单负面清单数据出境案例。 Beijing’s “Two Zones” negative list (May 2026) adopts … FTZ Data-Export Negative Lists Accelerate: Beijing, Hengqin, Chongqing and Nansha Go LiveRead more
FTZ Data Export Negative List and Facilitated Cross-Border Channels
The CAC “Provisions on Promoting and Regulating Cross-Border Data Flows” (CAC Decree No. 16, 22 March 2024) let free-trade zones formulate their own data-export negative lists under the national data classification framework. 国家网信办《促进和规范数据跨境流动规定》（2024年3月22日，第16号令）授权自由贸易试验区在国家数据分类分级保护制度框架下自行制定数据出境负面清单。 A free-trade zone’s negative list identifies the … FTZ Data Export Negative List and Facilitated Cross-Border ChannelsRead more
China’s Data Export Security Assessment Route (2026): a Field Guide for Foreign-Invested Enterprises
The security assessment is the highest-threshold of China’s three data-export routes and is mandatory when a Critical Information Infrastructure Operator (CIIO) exports personal information, or when any processor exports important data or large volumes of personal information. 安全评估是中国数据出境三条通道中门槛最高的一条，当关键信息基础设施运营者（CIIO）出境个人信息，或任何处理者出境重要数据、或大规模出境个人信息时，必须申报安全评估。 The statutory … China’s Data Export Security Assessment Route (2026): a Field Guide for Foreign-Invested EnterprisesRead more
Cross-Border Transfer of Personal Information via the China Standard Contract: Thresholds, Filing and Model Clauses
The standard contract is the second of PIPL’s three export routes: sign with the overseas recipient, then file with the provincial cyberspace administration. 标准合同是《个保法》三条出境路径中的第二条：与境外接收方签约，再向省级网信部门备案。 Eligibility is fixed by volume bands: non-CIIO, 100k–under 1m non-sensitive or under 10k sensitive individuals, and … Cross-Border Transfer of Personal Information via the China Standard Contract: Thresholds, Filing and Model ClausesRead more
China’s Personal Information Export Certification: The Third Route Opens on 1 January 2026
China’s third data-export route opened on 1 January 2026 under CAC and SAMR Order No. 20. 第20号令使个人信息保护认证成为可用通道，2026年1月1日起施行。 Eligibility is narrow: non-CIIO handlers, 100,000 to under 1m individuals’ non-sensitive data or under 10,000 individuals’ sensitive data, and no important data. 适用面窄：非CIIO主体，10万至不满100万人非敏感或不满1万人敏感个人信息，且不含重要数据。 … China’s Personal Information Export Certification: The Third Route Opens on 1 January 2026Read more
Telecom sector opening to foreign investment: the value-added services pilot
China has removed foreign-equity caps on internet data centre (IDC) and other value-added telecom services in Beijing, Shanghai, Hainan and Shenzhen.中国已在北京、上海、海南、深圳取消互联网数据中心（IDC）等增值电信业务的外资股比限制。 As of June 2026, 166 foreign-invested enterprises had received value-added telecom operating pilot approvals since the first batch in … Telecom sector opening to foreign investment: the value-added services pilotRead more
Cross-Border HR Data and PIPIA: Personal Information Compliance for Expatriate Workforces
Cross-border transfers of employee personal information are exempt from the security-assessment, standard-contract and certification routes where they implement cross-border HR management under a duly adopted labour rule or collective contract. 按照依法制定的劳动规章制度和依法签订的集体合同实施跨境人力资源管理的员工个人信息出境，可免予安全评估、标准合同与认证。 A Personal Information Protection Impact Assessment (PIPIA) is still … Cross-Border HR Data and PIPIA: Personal Information Compliance for Expatriate WorkforcesRead more