China's MIIT proposes stricter solar cell and module efficiency standards in draft 2026 specifications

China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) released for public consultation on Oct. 16 draft 2026 Photovoltaic Manufacturing Industry Specifications that would replace the 2024 rules and raise minimum average conversion efficiencies, with the consultation open until Nov. 15. New and expanded cell lines would need 26.2% for n-type TOPCon, 26.0% for HJT and 26.6% for BC, up from a uniform 26.0% for new n-type cells; existing lines would need 25.3% for TOPCon and HJT and 25.6% for BC, against 25.0% previously.

China proposes export ban on perovskite and tandem solar manufacturing technology

China's Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Science and Technology proposed on Oct. 16, under Joint Announcement No. 48 of 2026, adding 12 photovoltaic technologies to the Catalogue of Technologies Prohibited or Restricted from Export, covering perovskite-silicon tandem cell processes for wafers of at least 182 mm and efficiencies of 30% or higher, slot-die coating at widths of at least 1.1 meters, single-junction perovskite modules of at least 1 square meter at 18% or higher, and tandem modules of the same area at 28% or higher.

China proposes export ban on perovskite and tandem solar manufacturing technology

China's Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Science and Technology proposed on Oct. 16, under Joint Announcement No. 48 of 2026, adding 12 photovoltaic technologies to the Catalogue of Technologies Prohibited or Restricted from Export, covering perovskite-silicon tandem cell processes for wafers of at least 182 mm and efficiencies of 30% or higher, slot-die coating at widths of at least 1.1 meters, and single-junction perovskite modules of at least 1 square meter at 18% or higher.

MOFCOM initiates antidumping investigation into p-nitrotoluene from the EU

MOFCOM Announcement No. 44 of 2026 states that, from October 3, 2026, MOFCOM has initiated an antidumping investigation into p-nitrotoluene (4-nitrotoluene, PNT) originating in the EU, classified under Chinese tariff line 29042020, with a dumping investigation period of July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026 and an injury investigation period of January 1, 2022 to June 30, 2026. The application was filed by Jiangsu Huaihe Chemical Co., Ltd. and Hubei Dongfang Chemical Co., Ltd. on behalf of the Chinese p-nitrotoluene industry. Interested parties must register to participate and submit comments on the scope, applicant qualification and other issues within 20 days of publication.

MOFCOM says Brazil beef safeguard trigger reached; 55% additional tariff from October 1

MOFCOM extends antidumping investigation into pecans from Mexico and the United States

MOFCOM issues preliminary antidumping determination on dichlorosilane from Japan

MOFCOM issues interested-party questionnaire in national security investigation of imported printing and copying office equipment

MOFCOM's Trade Remedy and Investigation Bureau issued a notice, 商救济进四函〔2026〕9号, releasing the interested-party questionnaire in the foreign trade national security investigation into certain imported printing, copying and office equipment that MOFCOM initiated on August 5, 2026 under Announcement No. 33 of 2026. Interested parties must submit their completed questionnaires through the Trade Remedy Investigation Information Platform by 17:00 Beijing time on September 14, 2026. The Bureau will issue further questionnaires and notices through the same platform and asks parties to register promptly.

MOFCOM Announcement No. 36 of 2026: Daicel succeeds Polyplastics' antidumping duty rates on POM copolymer

MOFCOM Announcement No. 36 of 2026 provides that DAICEL CORPORATION succeeds to the 35.5% antidumping duty rate and other rights and obligations of POLYPLASTICS CO., LTD., and DAICEL HPP TAIWAN CO., LTD. succeeds to the 3.8% rate of POLYPLASTICS TAIWAN CO., LTD., in the antidumping measure on POM copolymer originating in the United States, the EU, the Taiwan region and Japan, effective August 21, 2026. Exports made under the name POLYPLASTICS CO., LTD. are subject to the 35.5% rate for "other Japanese companies", and exports under the name POLYPLASTICS TAIWAN CO., LTD. to the 32.6% rate for "other Taiwan region companies".

MOFCOM keeps antidumping duties on single-mode optical fiber from India for five years

MOFCOM Announcement No. 35 of 2026 states that, from August 14, 2026, antidumping duties continue for five years on single-mode optical fiber from India under tariff line 90011000, at the same rates set in Announcements No. 56 of 2014 and No. 29 of 2020: 7.4% for Sterlite Technologies Limited, 11.4% for Birla Furukawa Fibre Optics Limited, 24.5% for Corning Technologies India Private Limited, 30.6% for Aksh Optifibre Limited and Finolex Cables Limited, and 24.5% for other Indian companies. The expiry review found that dumping and injury to China's single-mode optical fiber industry would likely continue or recur if the measure were terminated.

MOFCOM adds U.S. firm Compliance Testing LLC to countermeasure list over FCC measures

MOFCOM opens national security investigation into imported printing and copying office equipment with foreign system software

MOFCOM Announcement No. 33 of 2026 states that, from August 5, 2026, the Ministry of Commerce has initiated an investigation into national security interests in foreign trade covering imported office equipment with printing and copying functions that runs foreign system software, defined as driver and embedded software developed, tested or maintained by foreign individuals or entities. The investigation is opened under Articles 41 and 42 of the Foreign Trade Law and will examine import volumes, dependence on foreign goods, technology and services, the state of domestic industry and the effect of relevant foreign government policies.

China's MOFCOM adds six U.S. entities to countermeasure list over Xinjiang sanctions

MOFCOM Order No. 2 of 2026, issued August 5, 2026, adds six U.S. entities to China's countermeasure list and prohibits organizations and individuals within China from conducting transactions or cooperation with them. The listed entities are Applied DNA Sciences, Inc., Stratum Reservoir, LLC., Altana Technologies, Inc., the Responsible Business Alliance, Verite Group, Inc. and Human Rights in China. MOFCOM states the entities assisted or supported U.S. sanctions related to Xinjiang, and cites the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law and its implementing rules.

MOFCOM tightens export controls on drone-related dual-use items to the United States

MOFCOM adds 14 EU entities to Export Control List over dual-use items

MOFCOM adds 20 Japanese entities to watch list for dual-use item exports

MOFCOM Announcement No. 28 of 2025 adds 20 Japanese entities, including Mitsui E&S Co., Ltd., Terra Drone Corporation and Japan Nuclear Fuel Limited, to a watch list for dual-use item exports, effective from the date of publication on June 29, 2026. Exporters may not use general licenses or registration-based export credentials for these entities; single-item license applications must include a risk assessment report and a written commitment that the items will not be used for any purpose that helps enhance Japan's military strength.

State Council approves temporary waiver of customs guarantee and ship-registration rules for Hong Kong and Macao yachts in nine Greater Bay Area mainland cities

China's State Council, in State Council Letter No. 45 of 2026 (国函〔2026〕45号), approved from the date of the reply the temporary adjustment of the Customs Affairs Guarantee Regulations and the Vessel Registration Regulations in nine mainland cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area — Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen and Zhaoqing — so that Hong Kong and Macao yachts entering and leaving the mainland temporarily through designated ports and limited to free travel within those nine cities are exempt from guarantee and may use temporary vessel nationality registration.

China's State Council publishes implementing regulations for the Mineral Resources Law, effective June 15, 2026

China's State Council issued Decree No. 839, the Implementing Regulations for the Mineral Resources Law of the People's Republic of China, adopted at the 85th State Council executive meeting on May 9, 2026 and effective June 15, 2026. The regulations cover mining rights, exploration and extraction, mine ecological restoration, strategic mineral reserves and supervision, and provide that imports and exports of minerals and related goods, technologies and services must comply with foreign trade and import-export laws, with items subject to export control also requiring compliance with export control rules.

State Council issues 2026 legislative work plan covering customs law, origin rules and export control

The State Council General Office issued the 2026 Legislative Work Plan (Guo Ban Fa [2026] No. 14), which lists the customs law amendment among 14 bills to be submitted to the NPC Standing Committee, with drafting by the General Administration of Customs.

China's Finance Ministry, GACC and STA grant duty-free import quota for exhibits sold at 2026-2027 CIFTIS

China's Ministry of Finance, the General Administration of Customs and the State Taxation Administration state in Cai Guan Shui [2026] No. 22 that imported exhibits sold at the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) within each exhibitor's duty-free quota are exempt from import duty, import-stage VAT and consumption tax, under the exhibit categories and sales quotas in the annex. Excluded from the exemption are goods banned from import, endangered animals and plants and their products, tobacco, alcohol, automobiles, and goods on the Catalogue of Major Technical Equipment and Products Not Eligible for Import Duty Exemption.

China's Ministry of Finance issues measures for 15th Five-Year Plan energy resource import tax incentives

China's Ministry of Finance, with the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the General Administration of Customs, the State Taxation Administration and the National Energy Administration, issued the administrative measures under Cai Guan Shui [2026] No. 17 for the import tax incentives on energy and resource exploration and development during the 15th Five-Year Plan, effective from January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2030. The first batch of duty-free import goods lists takes effect on January 1, 2026, and later batches take effect on the 20th day after issuance.

China's Tariff Commission and ministries grant import tax breaks for energy and resource exploration during the 15th Five-Year Plan

China's Ministry of Finance, the General Administration of Customs and the State Taxation Administration issued Cai Guan Shui [2026] No. 16, effective January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2030, exempting import duties on equipment, instruments, spare parts and special tools that cannot be produced domestically and are used directly in offshore oil and gas exploration and development, including emergency rescue for offshore oil and gas pipelines. For Sino-foreign cooperative offshore oil and gas projects, including those approved before December 31, 1994, import duties and import-stage VAT are exempt.