Ministry of Commerce (China)

The Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) is an executive department of the State Council of the People's Republic of China responsible for formulating policies on foreign trade, export and import regulations, foreign direct investments, consumer protection, market competition (competition regulator), and negotiating bilateral and multilateral trade agreements. It is the 20th-ranked department of the State Council. The current minister is Wang Wentao.

History

In November 1949, a month after the People's Republic of China was established, the Chinese Communist Party formed the Ministry of Trade (贸易部) while the MOEA continued to operate in Taiwan and several other islands.Template:Citation needed

In August 1952, the Ministry was renamed to Ministry of Foreign Trade (对外贸易部). Ye Jizhuang was the first Minister and died in the post in 1967.Template:Citation needed

In March 1982, the Ministry of Foreign Trade was merged with the Ministry of Foreign Economic Liaison (对外经济联络部), the State Import and Export Regulation Commission (国家进出口管理委员会), and the State Foreign Investment Regulation Commission (国家外国投资管理委员会), and became the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations and Trade (对外经济贸易部).Template:Citation needed

In March 1993, the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations and Trade was renamed to the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (对外贸易经济合作部).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Primary source inline

In the spring of 2003, the former Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation went through a reorganization and was renamed Ministry of Commerce. During 2003, the Ministry established Forum Macao in the Macao Special Administrative Region as a multi-lateral mechanism for cooperation between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries.<ref name=":32">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp

In 2006, the Ministry of Commerce oversaw the program of "ten thousand businesses advance westward" in conjunction with the Hu-Wen administration's early emphasis on balancing regional development.<ref name=":26">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp

The ministry also incorporates the former State Economic and Trade Commission and the State Development Planning Commission.

Template:Tree chart/start Template:Tree chart Template:Tree chart Template:Tree chart Template:Tree chart Template:Tree chart Template:Tree chart Template:Tree chart Template:Tree chart/endSince 2015, the ministry has implemented "overseas talent offshore innovation and entrepreneurship bases" in partnership with institutions abroad for technology transfer purposes.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2018, the ministry lost powers and responsibilities regarding anti-monopoly, intellectual property, counterfeit goods, foreign aid, and some financial products to other departments.<ref name=":022">Template:Cite web</ref>

Coordinating foreign aid became the responsibility of the newly created China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA).<ref name=":Chen">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp MOFCOM had tended to emphasize the use of aid to support foreign trade objectives, whereas CIDCA has increasingly emphasized the use of aid to support foreign policy objectives.<ref name=":Chen" />Template:Rp MOFCOM continues to have a role in foreign aid through implementing overseas projects and selecting the firms to undertake them.<ref name=":Chen" />Template:Rp

Functions

MOFCOM is in charge of the administration of foreign trade and is China's primary foreign trade negotiator.<ref name=":4">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp MOFCOM also deals with foreign investment regulation.<ref name=":Zhang" />Template:Rp It works with the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) to draft negative lists for foreign investments at the national level and for special economic zones.<ref name=":022" /> MOFCOM certifies Chinese firms' international contracting business; Chinese contractors performing work abroad must obtain letters from the MOFCOM Economic and Commercial Office at the Chinese embassy in the host country.<ref name=":Chen" />Template:Rp

MOFCOM additionally is responsible for developing strategic national plans in the areas of finance and taxation, drafts the central financing budget, supervises central financial expenditures, and audits the budget and accounts of state capital and the national social insurance fund.<ref name=":Zhang">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp

MOFCOM is China's most important negotiator in the global governance of intellectual property.<ref name=":4" />Template:Rp

MOFCOM additionally has responsibilities on economic relations with Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.<ref name=":022" /> To that end the Vice Minister An Min, and the previous Financial Secretary of Hong Kong, Antony Leung, concluded the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA). New agreements are continually negotiated between An and the current Financial Secretary John Tsang under the auspices of the CEPA. Similar agreements were also concluded between the MOFCOM and Secretariat for Economy and Finance of Macau.Template:Citation needed

In the first decade after the institution of China's Anti-Monopoly Law (2008–2018), MOFCOM was responsible for regulation of mergers under the law.<ref name=":Zhang" />Template:Rp Other antitrust investigations were handled by the State Administration of Industry and Commerce and the NDRC.<ref name=":Zhang" />Template:Rp During that period, MOFCOM prohibited two mergers and imposed remedies in 36 transactions, all of which involved foreign multinational corporations.<ref name=":Zhang" />Template:Rp The State Administration for Market Regulation was created and became China's primary antitrust regulator in 2018.<ref name=":Zhang" />Template:Rp

MOFCOM assists in drafting laws and regulations in its relevant policy areas.<ref name=":Zhang" />Template:Rp

Leadership

A ministerial-level MOFCOM vice minister serves as the International Trade Representative, representing China at bilateral and multilateral trade agreements.<ref name=":022" />

See also

• China International Electronic Commerce Center (CIECC)
• China Investment Promotion Agency (CIPA)
• Ministry of Economic Affairs of the Republic of China

External links

• Template:Official website