Foreign trade law

FOREIGN TRADE LAW OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
Adopted at the Seventh Meeting of the Standing Committee of the
Eighth National People's Congress on 12 May 1994,
Promulgated by Order No.22 of the President of the People's Republic of China on 12 May 1994,
and effective as of 1 July 1994



Chapter I General Provisions
Article 1 This Law is formulated with a view to developing foreign trade, maintaining the order of foreign trade and promoting a sound development of the socialist market economy.
Article 2 Foreign trade as used in this Law refers to the import and export of goods and technologies, and the international service trade.
Article 3 The competent department in charge of foreign economic relations and trade under the State Council shall be in charge of the work of foreign trade throughout the country in accordance with this Law.
Article 4 The State shall institute a uniform system of foreign trade and safeguard a fair and free foreign trade order in accordance with law. The State shall encourage the development of foreign trade, bring into play the initiative of localities and ensure the independence of management of foreign trade operators.
Article 5 The People's Republic of China promotes and develops trade relations with other countries and regions in accordance with the principle of equality and mutual benefit.
Article 6 The People's Republic of China in foreign trade grants the most favoured nation treatment and the national’s treatment to other signatories or acceding parties on the basis of the international treaties and agreements that China has signed or acceded to, or to the other party under the principle of mutual benefit and reciprocity.
Article 7 Where a country or a region adopts prohibitive, restrictive or other similar measures that are discriminative in nature against the People's Republic of China in trade, the People's Republic of China may, in the light of the actual conditions, adopt corresponding counter-measures against such a country or region.
Chapter II Foreign Trade Operators
Article 8 Foreign trade operators as used in this Law refer to the legal persons or other organizations engaged in the operative activities of foreign trade in accordance with the provisions of this Law.
Article 9 Foreign trade operators handling the import and export of goods or technologies must satisfy the following conditions, and obtain the permission from the competent department in charge of foreign economic relations and trade under the State Council:

(1) having their own names and organizational structures;
(2) having clear-cut business scopes of foreign trade;
(3) having Premises, funds and professionals needed for the foreign trade business they are engaged in;
(4) having fulfilled the required performance of having necessary sources of goods for import and export in the case of entrusting others to handle imports and exports; and
(5) other conditions provided by laws and administrative rules and regulations.
The measures for the implementation of the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall be formulated by the State Council.
Enterprises with foreign investment shall be free from obtaining the permission as stipulated in the first paragraph of this Article, if they, in accordance with the laws and administrative rules and regulations governing enterprises with foreign investment, import non-productive goods for their own uses, or necessary equipment, raw materials and other goods for their production, or export their own products.
Article 10 The establishment of the international service trading enterprises and organizations and their business activities shall comply with the provisions of this Law and other relevant laws and administrative rules and regulations.
Article 11 Foreign trade operators shall in accordance with law enjoy full autonomy in their management and shall be responsible for their own profits and losses.
Article 12 Foreign trade operators shall, in conducting foreing trade activities, honor contracts, ensure product quality and improve after-sale service.
Article 13 Organizations or individuals without permits for foreign trade business may entrust foreign trade operators within China to conduct foreign trade businesses on their behalf within the business scope of the trustees. The foreign trade operators who are entrusted to conduct foreign trade business shall truthfully provide the trustors with market information, commodity prices, information about clients and other relevant business information. The trustors and trustees shall conclude a trusteeship contract in which the rights and obligations of both parties shall be specified.
Article 14 Foreign trade operators shall, in accordance with the provisions of the competent department in charge of foreign economic relations and trade under the State Council, present documents and material pertinent to their foreign trade business to the relevant departments. The departments concerned shall keep business secrets for such providers.
Chapter III Import and Export of Goods and Technologies
Article 15 The State shall allow free import and export of goods and technologies, however, except as otherwise provided for in laws or administrative rules and regulations.
Article 16 The State may restrict the import and export of the goods and technologies under any of the following circumstance:

(1) for safeguarding national security or public interests, there is need to restrict imports or exports;
(2) due to short supply on domestic market or for effective conservation of exhaustible domestic resources, there is need to restrict exports;
(3) due to the limited market capacity in the country or region of destination, there is need to restrict exports;
(4) for establishing or speeding up the establishment of a particular domestic industry, there is need to restrict imports;
(5) for any form of agricultural, animal husbandry or fishery products, there is necessity to restrict imports;
(6) for safeguarding the State’s international financial position and ensuring the balance of international receipts and payments, there is need to restrict imports; or
(7) under the international treaties or agreements signed or acceded to by the People's Republic of China, there is need to restrict imports or exports.
Article 17 The State shall prohibit the import or export of the goods and technologies falling into any of the following categories:

(1) those that endanger national security or public interests;
(2) those whose import or export must be prohibited for the protection of human life or health;
(3) those that impair ecological environment; or
(4) under the international treaties or agreements signed or acceded to by the People's Republic of China, the prohibition of import or export is required.
Article 18 The competent department in charge of foreign economic relations and trade under the State Council shall, in collaboration with other relevant departments under the State Council, formulate, readjust and publicize the catalogue of goods and technologies whose import or export is prohibited or restricted according to the provisions in Articles 16 and 17 of this Law. The competent department in charge of foreign economic relations and trade under the State Council may, independently or jointly with relevant departments under the State Council, subject to the approval of the State Council and within the scope stipulated in Articles 16 and 17 of this Law, specially decide to restrict or prohibit the import or export of specific goods or technologies which are not included in the catalogues specified in the preceding paragraph.
Article 19 Goods under import or export restrictions shall be managed by distributing quotas or issuing licences; while technologies under import or export restrictions shall be managed by issuing licences. Goods and technologies managed by distributing quotas or issuing licences may be imported or exported, as prescribed by the State Council, only with the permission of the competent department in charge of foreign economic relations and trade under the State Council or together with relevant departments under the State Council.
Article 20 Qutotas for import and export of goods shall be distributed by the competent department in charge of foreign economic relations and trade under the State Council or by relevant departments under the State Council within their respective functions and responsibilities on the principles of efficiency, impartiality, transparency and fair competition and according to the performance and ability of the applicants in impore or export and other conditions. Ways and measures for the distribution of quotas shall be prescribed by the State Council.
Article 21 In respect of cultural relics, wild animals and plants and their products as well as other goods and merchandise, if their imports of exports are prohibited or restricted under other laws or administrative rules and regulations, the provisions of such laws or administrative rules and regulations shall be applied.
Chapter IV International Service Trade
Article 22 The State shall promote the progressive development of international service trade.
Article 23 The People's Republic of China shall, in international service trade, grant other signatories and acceding parties market access and national treatment according to the commitments made in the international treaties or agreements it has signed or acceded to.
Article 24 The State may restrict international service trade on the basis of any of the following considerations:

(1) for safeguarding national security or public interests;
(2) for protecting ecological environment;
(3) for establishing or speeding up the establishment of a particular domestic service industry;
(4) for ensuring the State’s balance of international receipts and payments; or
(5) other circumstances calling for such restrictions as provided by laws or administrative rules and regulations.
Article 25 The State shall prohibit the international service trade falling into any of the following categories:

(1) that endangering national security or public interests;
(2) that running counter to the international commitments undertaken by the People's Republic of China; or
(3) that prohibited by laws and administrative rules and regulations.
Article 26 The competent department in charge of foreign economic relations and trade under the State Council and relevant departments under the State Council shall conduct management of international service trade according to this Law and relevant laws and administrative rules and regulations.
Chapter V Order of Foreign Trade
Article 27 Foreign trade operators shall, in their foreign trade activities, conduct business operations according to law, carry out fair competition and shall not commit any of the following acts:

(1) counterfeiting, altering, buying or selling certificates of origin, or licenses of import and export;
(2) infringing upon the intellectual property rights protected by laws of the People's Republic of China;
(3) pushing out competitors by means of unfair competition;
(4) fraudulently obtaining tax refund for exports from the State; or
(5) other acts violating laws or administrative rules and regulations.
Article 28 Foreign trade operators shall, in their foreign trade activities, use, or settle their accounts of, foreign currency in accordance with relevant regulations of the State.
Article 29 Where due to the increase of imported products, domestic producers of like products or producers manufacturing products directly competitive to the imported ones suffer material damage or threat of material damage, the State may take necessary protective measures to eliminate or reduce such damage or threat of damage.
Article 30 Where products are imported at prices lower than its normal value, thereby causing substantial damage or threat of substantial damage to the relevant domestic industries already established, or substantially hindering the establishment of relevant domestic industries, the State may take necessary measures to eliminate or reduce such damage or threat of damage or hindrance.
Article 31 Where imported products receive subsidies of any form directly or indirectly from countries of exportation, thus causing substantial damage or threat of substantial damage to relevant domestic industries already established, or substantially hindering the establishment of relevant domestic industries, the State may take necessary measures to eliminate or reduce such damage or threat of damage or hindrance.
Article 32 When circumstances specified in Article 29, 30 or 31 occur, departments or organs designated by the State Council shall investigate and handle them according to laws or administrative rules and regulations.
Chapter VI Promotion of Foreign Trade
Article 33 The State shall, in light of the needs for the development of foreign trade, set up and improve financial institutions in service of foreign trade and establish development fund and risk fund for foreign trade.
Article 34 The State shall adopt promotional measures to develop foreign trade such as providing credits for import and export and refunding taxes on exports.
Article 35 Foreign trade operators may set up and join import-export chambers according to law. Import-export chambers shall observe laws and administrative rules and regulations, coordinate and direct foreign trade activities of their members according to the articles of associations, provide consultant services, report suggestions of their members concerning the promotion of foreign trade to relevant governmental departments and actively conduct activities for the promotion of foreign trade.
Article 36 China's international trade promotion organizations shall, according to the articles of associations, carry out foreign liaison activities, hold exhibitions, provide information and consultant services as well as other activities for the promotion of foreign trade.
Article 37 The State shall support and promote national autonomous regions and economically under-developed areas to develop foreign trade.
Chapter VII Legal Liability
Article 38 Whoever smuggles goods whose import and export are prohibited or restricted, if such an act constitutes a crime, shall be investigated for criminal responsibility according to the Supplementary Provisions for the Punishment of the Crime of Smuggling. If such an act does not constitute a crime, the offender shall be punished according to the Customs Law. The competent department in charge of foreign economic relations and trade under the State Council may concurrently revoke their business licenses for foreign trade.
Article 39 Whoever counterfeits or alters certificates of origin or licenses of import and export shall be investigated for criminal responsibility according to the provisions of Article 167 of the Criminal Law. Whoever buys or sells the certificates of origin for import and export or licenses of import and export, or buys or sells counterfeited or altered certificates of origin, or licenses of import and export shall be investigated for criminal responsibility by applying mutatis mutandis the provisions of Article 167 of the Criminal Law. Where a unit commits the crimes specified in the preceding paragraph, it shall be punished with a fine. Persons directly in charge and persons who are held directly responsible in the unit shall be investigated for criminal responsibility according to or by applying mutatis mutandis the provisions of Article 167 of the Criminal Law. The competent department in charge of foreign economic relations and trade under the State Council may concurrently revoke their business licenses for conducting foreign trade. Whoever knowingly uses counterfeited or altered licenses of import and export to import or export goods shall be punished according to the provisions of Article 38 of this Law.
Article 40 Whoever in violation of this Law imports or exports technologies whose import and export are prohibited or restricted, if such an act constitutes a crime, shall be investigated for criminal responsibility by applying mutatis mutandis the Supplementary Provisions for the Punishment of the Crime of Smuggling.
Article 41 The State functionaries engaged in foreign trade who neglect their duties or practise irregularities for personal gains or abuse their power shall be investigated for criminal responsibility according to law if their acts constitute a crime. If their acts do not constitute a crime, they shall be given administrative sanctions. The State functionaries engaged in foreign trade who by taking advantage of their office extort other persons’ money or goods or illegally accept other persons’ money or goods so as to seek benefits for such persons shall be investigated for criminal responsibility according to the Supplementary Provisions for the Punishment of the Crime of Corruption and Bribery if their acts constitute a crime. If their acts do not constitute a crime, they shall be given administrative sanctions.
Chapter VIII Supplementary Provisions
Article 42 The State shall adopt flexible measures and provide favourable treatment and convenience to the trade between its frontier towns and the frontier towns of bordering countries as well as fairs among the inhabitants of border areas. Specific measures shall be formulated by the State Council.
Article 43 This Law shall not apply to the separate customs areas in the People's Republic of China.
Article 44 This Law shall go into effect on July 1, 1994.
中华人民共和国对外贸易法
(1994年5月12日第八届全国人民代表大会常务委员会第七次会议通过 1994年5月12日中华人民共和国主席令第二十二号公布 自1994年7月1日起施行)
第一章总则
第一条为了发展对外贸易，维护对外贸易秩序，促进社会主义市场经济的健康 发展，制定本法。
第二条本法所称对外贸易，是指货物进出口、技术进出口和国际服务贸易。
第三条国务院对外经济贸易主管部门依照本法主管全国对外贸易工作。
第四条国家实行统一的对外贸易制度，依法维护公平的、自由的对外贸易秩 序。国家鼓励发展对外贸易，发挥地方的积极性，保障对外贸易经营者的经营 自主权。
第五条中华人民共和国根据平等互利的原则，促进和发展同其他国家和地区的 贸易关系。
第六条中华人民共和国在对外贸易方面根据所缔结或者参加的国际条约、协 定，给予其他缔约方、参加方或者根据互惠、对等原则给予对方最惠国待遇、 国民待遇。
第七条任何国家或者地区在贸易方面对中华人民共和国采取歧视性的禁止、限 制或者其他类似措施的，中华人民共和国可以根据实际情况对该国家或者该地 区采取相应的措施。
第二章对外贸易经营者
第八条本法所称对外贸易经营者，是指依照本法规定从事对外贸易经营活动的 法人和其他组织。
第九条从事货物进出口与技术进出口的对外贸易经营，必须具备下列条件，经 国务院对外经济贸易主管部门许可：

㈠有自己的名称和组织机构；
㈡有明确的对外贸易经营范围；
㈢具有其经营的对外贸易业务所必需的场所、资金和专业人员；
㈣委托他人办理进出口业务达到规定的实绩或者具有必需的进出口货源；
㈤法律、行政法规规定的其他条件。
前款规定的实施办法由国务院规定。
外商投资企业依照有关外商投资企业的法律、行政法规的规定，进口企业自用 的非生产物品，进口企业生产所需的设备、原材料和其他物资，出口其生产的 产品，免予办理第一款规定的许可。
第十条国际服务贸易企业和组织的设立及其经营活动，应当遵守本法和其他有 关法律、行政法规的规定。
第十一条对外贸易经营者依法自主经营、自负盈亏。
第十二条对外贸易经营者从事对外贸易经营活动，应当信守合同，保证商品质 量，完善售后服务。
第十三条没有对外贸易经营许可的组织或者个人，可以在国内委托对外贸易经 营者在其经营范围内代为办理其对外贸易业务。
接受委托的对外贸易经营者应当向委托方如实提供市场行情、商品价格、客户 情况等有关的经营信息。委托方与被委托方应当签订委托合同，双方的权利义 务由合同约定。
第十四条对外贸易经营者应当按照国务院对外经济贸易主管部门的规定，向有 关部门提交与其对外贸易经营活动有关的文件及资料。有关部门应当为提供者 保守商业秘密。
第三章货物进出口与技术进出口
第十五条国家准许货物与技术的自由进出口。但是，法律、行政法规另有规定 的除外。
第十六条属于下列情形之一的货物、技术，国家可以限制进口或者出口：
㈠为维护国家安全或者社会公共利益，需要限制进口或者出口的；
㈡国内供应短缺或者为有效保护可能用竭的国内资源，需要限制出口的；
㈢输往国家或者地区的市场容量有限，需要限制出口的；
㈣为建立或者加快建立国内特定产业，需要限制进口的；
㈤对任何形式的农业、牧业、渔业产品有必要限制进口的；
㈥为保障国家国际金融地位和国际收支平衡，需要限制进口的；
㈦根据中华人民共和国所缔结或者参加的国际条约、协定的规定，需要限制进 口或者出口的。

第十七条属于下列情形之一的货物、技术，国家禁止进口或者出口：
㈠危害国家安全或者社会公共利益的；
㈡为保护人的生命或者健康，必须禁止进口或者出口的；
㈢破坏生态环境的；
㈣根据中华人民共和国所缔结或者参加的国际条约、协定的规定，需要禁止进 口或者出口的。

第十八条国务院对外经济贸易主管部门应当会同国务院有关部门，依照本法第 十六条、第十七条的规定，制定、调整并公布限制或者禁止进出口的货物、技 术目录。
国务院对外经济贸易主管部门或者由其会同国务院有关部门，经国务院批准， 可以在本法第十六条、第十七条规定的范围内，临时决定限制或者禁止前款规 定目录以外的特定货物、技术的进口或者出口。
第十九条对限制进口或者出口的货物，实行配额或者许可证管理；对限制进口 或者出口的技术，实行许可证管理。
实行配额或者许可证管理的货物、技术，必须依照国务院规定经国务院对外经 济贸易主管部门或者由其会同国务院有关部门许可，方可进口或者出口。
第二十条进出口货物配额，由国务院对外经济贸易主管部门或者国务院有关部 门在各自的职责范围内，根据申请者的进出口实绩、能力等条件，按照效益、 公正、公开和公平竞争的原则进行分配。
配额的分配方式和办法由国务院规定。
第二十一条对文物、野生动植物及其产品货物、物品，其他法律、行政法规有 禁止进出口或限制进出口规定的，依照有关法律、行政法规的规定办理。
第四章国际服务贸易
第二十二条国家促进国际服务贸易的逐步开展。
第二十三条中华人民共和国在国际服务贸易方面根据所缔结或者参加的国际条 约、协定中所作的承诺，给予其他缔约方、参加方市场准入和国民待遇。
第二十四条国家基于下列原因之一，可以限制国际服务贸易：
㈠为维护国家安全或者社会公共利益；
㈡为保护生态环境；
㈢为建立或者加快建立国内特定的服务业；
㈣为保障国家外汇收支平衡；
㈤法律、行政法规规定的其他限制。

第二十五条属于下列情形之一的国际服务贸易，国家予以禁止：
㈠危害国家安全或者社会公共利益的；
㈡违反中华人民共和国承担的国际义务的；
㈢法律、行政法规规定禁止的。

第二十六条国务院对外经济贸易主管部门和国务院有关部门，依照本法和其他 有关法律、行政法规，对国际服务贸易进行管理。
第五章对外贸易秩序
第二十七条对外贸易经营者在对外贸易经营活动中，应当依法经营，公平贸 易，不得有下列行为：
㈠伪造、变造或者买卖进出口原产地证明、进出口许可证；
㈡侵害中华人民共和国法律保护的知识产权；
㈢以不正当竞争手段排挤竞争对手；
㈣骗取国家出口退税；
㈤违反法律、行政法规规定的其他行为。
第二十八条对外贸易经营者在对外贸易经营活动中，应当依照国家有关规定结 汇、用汇。
第二十九条因进口产品数量增加，使国内相同产品或者与其直接竞争的产品的 生产者受到严重损害或者严重损害的威胁时，国家可以采取必要的保障措施， 消除或者减轻这种损害或者损害的威胁。
第三十条产品以低于正常价值的方式进口，并由此对国内已建立的相关产业造 成实质损害或者产生实质损害的威胁，或者对国内建立相关产业造成实质阻碍 时，国家可以采取必要措施，消除或者减轻这种损害或者损害的威胁或者阻 碍。
第三十一条进口的产品直接或者间接地接受出口国给予的任何形式的补贴，并 由此对国内已建立的相关产业造成实质损害或者产生实质损害的威胁，或者对 国内建立相关产业造成实质阻碍时，国家可以采取必要措施，消除或者减轻这 种损害或者损害的威胁或者阻碍。
<第三十二条发生第二十九条、第三十条、第三十一条规定的情况时，国务院规 定的部门或者机构应当依照法律、行政法规的规定进行调查，作出处理。 第六章对外贸易促进 第三十三条国家根据对外贸易发展的需要，建立和完善为对外贸易服务的金融 机构，设立对外贸易发展基金、风险基金。 第三十四条国家采取进出口信贷、出口退税及其他对外贸易促进措施，发展对 外贸易。 第三十五条对外贸易经营者可以依法成立和参加进出口商会。 进出口商会应当遵守法律、行政法规，依照章程对其会员的对外贸易经营活动 进行协调指导，提供咨询服务，向政府有关部门反映会员有关对外贸易促进方 面的建议，并积极开展对外贸易促进活动。 第三十七条国家扶持和促进民族自治地方和经济不发达地区发展对外贸易。 第七章法律责任 第三十八条走私禁止进出口或者限制进出口的货物，构成犯罪的，依照惩治走 私罪的补充规定追究刑事责任；不构成犯罪的，依照海关法的规定处罚。国务 院对外经济贸易主管部门并可以撤销其对外贸易经营许可。 第三十九条伪造、变造进出口原产地证明、进出口许可证，依照刑法第一百六 十七条的规定追究刑事责任；买卖进出口原产地证明、进出口许可证，比照刑 法第一百六十七条的规定追究刑事责任。 单位犯前款罪的，判处罚金，并对单位直接负责的主管人员和其他直接责任人 员依照或者比照刑法第一百六十七条的规定追究刑事责任。国务院对外经济贸 易主管部门并可以撤销其对外贸易经营许可。 明知是伪造、变造的进出口许可证而用以进口或者出口货物，依照本法第三十 八条的规定处罚。 第四十条违反本法规定，进口或者出口禁止进出口或者限制进出口的技术，构 成犯罪的，比照惩治走私罪的补充规定追究刑事责任。 第四十一条国家对外贸易工作人员玩忽职守、徇私舞弊或者滥用职权，构成犯 罪的，依法追究刑事责任；不构成犯罪的，给予行政处分。 国家对外贸易工作人员利用职务上的便利，索取他人财物，或者非法收受他人 财物为他人谋取利益，构成犯罪的，依照惩治贪污罪贿赂罪的补充规定追究刑 事责任；不构成犯罪的，给予行政处分。 第八章附则 第四十二条国家对边境城镇与接壤国家边境城镇之间的贸易以及边民互市贸 易，采取灵活措施，给予优惠和便利。具体办法由国务院规定。 第四十三条中华人民共和国的单独关税区不适用本法。 <第四十四条本法自1994年7月1日起施行。 附：刑法有关条款 第一百六十七条伪造、变造或者盗窃、抢夺、毁灭国家机关、企业、事业单 位、人民团体的公文、证件、印章的，处三年以下有期徒刑、拘役、管制或者