China has canceled its registration requirements for business operators engaged in foreign trade activities, following a revision to the country's Foreign Trade Law adopted by the 38th session of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) on Dec 30, 2022.

According to the revision, competent departments of foreign trade under the State Council will no longer require market entities engaged in the import and export of goods or technology to register for the record.

During a meeting in October 2019, the NPC Standing Committee granted authority to the State Council to lift the registration system for foreign trade authorization in domestic pilot free trade zones (FTZs) in a three-year scheme.

The practices of the FTZs, as pioneers in the country's opening-up drive, demonstrated that such measures have further streamlined administrative procedures for market entities in getting approval to participate in foreign trade, facilitated the liberalization of foreign trade, and gained wider recognition from business operators over the past few years.

Meanwhile, with government supervision strengthened, no risks were found after the cancellation of the registration system in the pilot scheme.

Therefore, the State Council proposed to revise the foreign trade law in a bid to further show its determination to promote trade liberalization and facilitation, streamline and improve government services, optimize the business environment, and advance high-quality trade development as well as high-level opening-up.

The NPC Standing Committee thus enacted the revision to the foreign trade law and asked the departments of commerce to strengthen coordination and information sharing with customs and other relevant departments in the scientific regulation of foreign trade.

The latest revision to the foreign trade law reflects the synergy between legislative affairs and reforms and is a testament to the importance of carrying out pilot reforms to make legislation more scientific and practical and to ensure thorough law enforcement.