Ministry of Commerce releases "Methods for Industry Chain and Supply Chain Security Investigation Work"

Ministry of Commerce Announcement No. 24 of 2026: Release of "Methods for Industry Chain Supply Chain Security Investigation" In order to implement the "State Council's Regulations on Industry Chain Supply Chain Security" (State Council Order No. 834) and carry out the investigation of industry chain supply chain security to safeguard our country's industry chain supply chain security, the Ministry of Commerce has formulated the "Methods for Industry Chain Supply Chain Security Investigation," which are hereby announced and will come into effect from the date of publication. The Ministry of Commerce is responsible for the investigation of industry chain supply chain security and conducting investigative activities. The Ministry of Commerce may conduct industry chain supply chain security investigations on the following circumstances: 1. Foreign countries, regions, and international organizations violate international laws and basic norms of international relations, take discriminatory prohibitive, restrictive, or similar measures against China in the industry chain supply chain, and carry out or assist in behaviors that harm China's industry chain supply chain security. 2. Foreign organizations or individuals violate normal market trading principles, interrupt normal transactions with Chinese citizens or organizations, take discriminatory measures against Chinese citizens or organizations, or engage in other behaviors that cause substantial harm or pose a threat to China's industry chain supply chain security. The Ministry of Commerce may consider the impact on China's industry chain supply chain-related domestic and foreign elements, including important materials, technologies, funds, assets, data, information, personnel, enterprises, projects, etc., when evaluating industry chain supply chain security damages. If domestic legal entities or organizations believe that measures or actions taken by foreign countries, regions, organizations, individuals, or international organizations harm or may harm China's industry chain supply chain security and require an investigation, they may submit evidence, reports, or other written materials to the Ministry of Commerce. Domestic legal entities or organizations may also submit relevant evidence, reports, or other written materials to the Ministry of Commerce through the commerce departments of provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government, municipalities separately listed on the State plan, and Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. The Ministry of Commerce may, according to the actual situation, decide to initiate a case and issue a case notice. The Ministry of Commerce may utilize various methods such as interviews with relevant parties, access to or reproduction of relevant documents and data, solicitation of clues, distribution of questionnaires, sampling surveys, technical appraisals, and field investigations in conducting investigations, and the parties involved must cooperate. During the investigation, the Ministry of Commerce may actively collect relevant information. When necessary, the Ministry of Commerce may establish an expert consultation group to provide consultation opinions on technical and legal issues involved in the investigation. Members of the expert consultation group should properly safeguard confidential information and assume corresponding confidentiality responsibilities. When necessary, the Ministry of Commerce may conduct on-site investigations in related countries or regions, excluding those who raise objections. The parties involved, including the subjects of investigation, may make statements or defenses to the Ministry of Commerce during the investigation. The Ministry of Commerce may request the parties involved to submit or supplement written materials, and they may also voluntarily submit written materials. If the subjects of investigation fail to cooperate, fail to truthfully reflect the situation or provide relevant materials within a reasonable period, or severely obstruct the investigation in other ways, the Ministry of Commerce may make determinations based on the facts and information available. During the investigation process, the Ministry of Commerce may engage in consultations with the parties involved regarding the measures or actions being investigated. If one of the situations outlined in Article Fifteen occurs, the Ministry of Commerce may terminate the investigation and issue a public notice: 1. The country, region, organization, individual, or international organization being investigated has canceled or adjusted the measures or actions being investigated, ceasing to harm or threaten China's industry chain supply chain security. 2. The country, region, organization, individual, or international organization being investigated has reached a resolution with China. 3. Other circumstances deemed suitable for terminating the investigation by the Ministry of Commerce. Based on the investigation results, the Ministry of Commerce, in conjunction with relevant departments, may take the following measures against countries, regions, and international organizations that engage in or assist in behaviors that harm China's industry chain supply chain security: 1. Prohibit or restrict the import and export of goods, technologies, or international services related to them. 2. Impose special fees on activities related to them. 3. List organizations or individuals who have directly or indirectly participated in formulating, deciding, or implementing the measures or actions specified in Article Three, Item One of this method in the countermeasure list in accordance with the Law of the People's Republic of China on Countering Foreign Sanctions and its Implementation Rules, and implement countermeasures. 4. Other necessary measures. Based on the investigation results, the Ministry of Commerce, in conjunction with relevant departments, may take the following measures against foreign organizations and individuals who harm China's industry chain supply chain security: 1. Prohibit or restrict their involvement in import and export activities related to China. 2. Prohibit or restrict their investments in China. 3. Prohibit or restrict transactions, cooperation, and other activities with these organizations or individuals in China. 4. Prohibit or restrict the entry of relevant personnel, transportation vehicles, etc. 5. Cancel or restrict the work, stay, or residence qualifications of relevant personnel in China. 6. Other necessary measures. The above measures may be applied to organizations controlled or involved in the establishment and operation of foreign organizations and individuals. If organizations or individuals within China fail to comply with the measures adopted by the Ministry of Commerce according to Articles Seventeen, Eighteen, or Nineteen of this method, the Ministry of Commerce may order corrections and take the following measures in coordination with relevant departments as deemed necessary: 1. Prohibit or restrict their participation in government procurement, bidding, and international trade activities involving goods, technologies, imports, or international services. 2. Prohibit or restrict the receipt or provision of data or personal information from abroad. 3. Prohibit or restrict departure or residence in China. 4. Other necessary measures. The Ministry of Commerce may make adjustments to the measures adopted according to Articles Seventeen, Eighteen, and Nineteen of this method when deemed necessary. The Ministry of Commerce is responsible for interpreting this method, which shall come into effect from the date of publication.