BEIJING, Dec. 19, 2025
China’s SAMR has revised its rules on prohibited monopoly agreements, clarifying the market share thresholds and conditions under which certain vertical agreements will not be banned.
The State Administration for Market Regulation said the amended provisions specify that vertical agreements fixing or restricting resale prices will not be prohibited if the parties’ market share remains below 5% and the turnover of the products concerned is under 100 million yuan. Other types of vertical agreements will be exempt from prohibition if the parties’ market share is below 15%, with no turnover requirement.
The revised rules, which will take effect on Feb. 1, 2026, follow changes to China’s Anti-Monopoly Law in 2022 and are intended to stabilise market expectations, unify enforcement standards and provide clearer compliance guidance for businesses. The regulator said the amendments draw on international experience while taking account of China’s large-scale market and industrial structure, and are expected to give small and medium-sized enterprises greater flexibility while supporting fair competition and innovation.
Source: https://www.samr.gov.cn/xw/zj/art/2025/art_5e1b65f4ee074f348ab246a1ca35ead4.html
