China adopts revised Foreign Trade Law

Chinese lawmakers on Saturday voted to adopt a revision to the Foreign Trade Law. The revised law, which was passed at a session of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, will take effect on March 1, 2026.

The revised law incorporates provisions on safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests, while highlighting that China’s foreign trade shall serve the national economic and social development. China’s Foreign Trade Law took effect in 1994 and was revised for the first time in 2004. The newly revised law now consists of 11 chapters.