The protection of business trade secrets is an important factor in the midst of taking stronger action against unfair competition, and also an integral part of the efforts to intensify the protection of intellectual property rights. It also bears great importance to promote innovation-driven and high-quality development.

The Financial and Economic Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) suggests that further studies and deliberation should be conducted over the protection of business trade secrets to roll out relevant legislation plans when the time is right.

In the revisions to the Anti-Unfair Competition Law in 2017 and 2019, the NPC Standing Committee systematically amended the existing clauses on the protection of business trade secrets, further specified circumstances for their misappropriation, expanded the scopes of subjects committing relevant crimes, and took stronger actions against any breaches.

At the fifth session of the 13th NPC in 2022, some deputies said in a motion that the  existing legal provisions on business trade secret are loosely connected and inconsistent, and that the inconsistency has impeded innovation-driven development of the economy. Thus, they have called for appropriate legislation of trade secret.

The State Administration for Market Regulation said that it is forward-looking for the motion to call for efforts in advancing relevant legislation, and improving legal systems concerning the issue.

The administration added that it will sum up administrative and judicial experiences concerning business trade secret protection, learn from the practices of developed countries and regions, and make revisions to relevant systems to lay a solid foundation for future legislation in this area.