Photo shows the nameplate of National Anti-monopoly Bureau, which is in the same building of the State Administration for Market Regulation in Beijing. Photo: CFP

The draft revision of China's Anti-Unfair Competition Law was opened for public opinions from Tuesday until December 22. The law aims to improve the anti-unfair competition rules for the digital economy, with operators being prohibited from engaging in unfair competition by using data, algorithms and platform rules.  

According to a notice issued by the State Administration for Market Regulation on Tuesday, the revision comes amid rapid development of the new economy along with various new industrial forms, resulting in the need to rein in new types of unfair competition involving data, algorithms and platform rules. The notice also stressed the importance of fair supervision of key sectors involving market entities and consumers. 

The draft revision will further regulate noticeable problems during the implementation process, while defining new unfair competition behavior to fill the legal gap and strengthen legal responsibilities. 

The draft also outlined detailed rules for violations, while also enhancing the predictability of the system and the standardization of law enforcement. 

Meanwhile, the draft noted that it listed the relevant responsibilities of platform operators to strengthen competition compliance management.

The new forms of unfair competition include damaging trade practices, which strengthens the legal protection for small and medium-sized market participants. 

China's State Council in January issued a document on the promotion of the integrated development of domestic and foreign trade, which highlights the strengthening of anti-monopoly and anti-unfair competition law enforcement and promotion of fair competition.

Global Times