China Legal Trends provides up-to-the-minute comments on China's laws, regulations, policies and cases, as well as in-depth analyses on major events relating to Chinese law and insights on public documents.
As a column of China Justice Observer, China Legal Trends is updated daily.
Tue, 24 Jun 2025 China Legal Trends CJO Staff Contributors Team
In May 2025, the Shanghai International Commercial Court issued its first-ever investigation order to assist evidence collection in a SHIAC arbitration, strengthening judicial support for cross-border dispute resolution and bolstering Shanghai’s arbitration-friendly environment.
Tue, 24 Jun 2025 China Legal Trends CJO Staff Contributors Team
China enacted its landmark first Private Economy Promotion Law, effective May 20, 2025, to guarantee fair competition, streamline market access via a unified negative list, and bolster private enterprises through financing, innovation, and service support.
Tue, 24 Jun 2025 China Legal Trends CJO Staff Contributors Team
In April 2025, China’s top court and procuratorate jointly issued a new judicial interpretation to clarify standards for handling criminal intellectual property infringement cases, aiming to strengthen IP protection, particularly in the service sector.
Fri, 20 Jun 2025 China Legal Trends CJO Staff Contributors Team
In April 2025, China’s Supreme People’s Court released eight typical IP cases, highlighting judicial responses to emerging issues in AI, gaming, and biotech, including a landmark ruling on AI face-swapping copyright infringement.
Fri, 20 Jun 2025 China Legal Trends CJO Staff Contributors Team
In April 2025, China’s Supreme People’s Court (SPC) issued six guiding cases to improve enforcement efficiency, standardize practices, and coordinate enforcement with bankruptcy proceedings.
Tue, 27 May 2025 China Legal Trends CJO Staff Contributors Team
In 2025, China has lowered its departure tax refund threshold from 500 RMB to 200 RMB and doubled cash refund limits to 20,000 RMB while expanding eligible stores and streamlining processes, aiming to boost inbound tourism spending and promote Chinese products.
Tue, 27 May 2025 China Legal Trends CJO Staff Contributors Team
In April 2025, China's Ministry of Human Resources and Supreme People's Court released typical labor dispute cases emphasizing stronger protection of pregnant employees' rights, including a case where unlawful job reassignment and salary reduction were ruled illegal.
Tue, 27 May 2025 China Legal Trends CJO Staff Contributors Team
China's revised marriage registration rules, effective May 2025, eliminate location restrictions, simplify procedures by removing hukou requirements, and align divorce processes with the Civil Code's cooling-off period.
Thu, 22 May 2025 China Legal Trends CJO Staff Contributors Team
In March 2025, China's Supreme People's Court (SPC) issued procedural guidelines for handling civil cases involving foreign state immunity, implementing the country's shift from absolute to restrictive immunity under the new Foreign State Immunity Law.
Thu, 22 May 2025 China Legal Trends CJO Staff Contributors Team
In March 2025, China’s State Council issued detailed rules to operationalize the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law, outlining asset freezes, trade and investment restrictions, and judicial countermeasures to protect national interests.