The National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Commerce released on June 23, 2020 the Special Administrative Measures (Negative List) for the Access of Foreign Investment (2020) and the Special Administrative Measures (Negative List) for the Access of Foreign Investment in Pilot Free Trade Zones. The two documents will be implemented from July 23, 2020.
The revisions have continued to curtail the negative lists for foreign investment. There are now only 33 items on the national negative list for foreign investment, and 30 items on the negative list for foreign investment at free trade zones. Among the significant changes, China will scrap foreign shareholding limits in securities companies, fund houses, futures companies and life insurance firms; China will ease market access restrictions in manufacturing and agricultural sectors, and scrap a ban on foreign investment into companies that smelt and process radioactive resources and produce nuclear fuel. Besides, opening-up policies will continue to be implemented at free trade zones.