Anti-Monopoly Law of the People's Republic of China

Introduction

The Anti-Monopoly Law of the People’s Republic of China (AML), effective August 2008 and amended in 2022, regulates monopolistic conduct, anti-competitive agreements, and mergers in China.

Key Prohibitions

The AML prohibits monopoly agreements (horizontal and vertical), abuse of dominant market position, and concentrations that may eliminate or restrict competition. The 2022 amendments strengthened provisions on digital platform regulation.

Merger Control

Concentrations meeting specified thresholds must be notified to the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) for review. SAMR may approve with or without conditions, or prohibit transactions that would restrict competition.

Enforcement

SAMR investigates violations and imposes remedies including cease-and-desist orders, fines (up to 10% of annual revenue for monopoly agreements and abuse of dominance), and structural remedies such as divestiture.