The Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China (MOFCOM) has formally launched two trade barrier investigations against the United States under Announcement No. 17 and No. 18 of 2026, both effective 27 March 2026, marking a significant regulatory development in cross-border trade enforcement.
The first investigation targets U.S. measures that disrupt global production and supply chains, including restrictions on market access for Chinese goods, export controls on high-technology products, and limitations on bilateral investment in strategic sectors. The second investigation focuses on U.S. practices that hinder trade in green products, including restrictions affecting renewable energy goods, technology cooperation, and project deployment.
Both investigations are initiated pursuant to China’s Foreign Trade Law and the Rules on Foreign Trade Barrier Investigations, which empower MOFCOM to act unilaterally where foreign measures may harm Chinese commercial interests or potentially violate WTO obligations.
From a procedural perspective, MOFCOM will conduct the investigations through questionnaires, hearings, and on-site verification, with an expected duration of six months, extendable by up to three additional months in complex cases. Interested parties are required to submit comments within 20 days of the initiation notice and provide supporting information through the designated electronic platform.
For trade compliance professionals, this development signals heightened regulatory scrutiny on supply chain controls, export restrictions, and green product trade flows. Companies with exposure to U.S.-China trade lanes should closely monitor potential findings and responsive measures, which may include retaliatory actions or policy adjustments affecting market access and operational continuity.
This twin-track investigation framework underscores China’s increasing use of formal trade barrier instruments as a compliance and enforcement tool, reinforcing the need for businesses to maintain robust documentation, risk assessment mechanisms, and regulatory monitoring across key jurisdictions.
Official sources from MOFCOM:
https://www.mofcom.gov.cn/zcfb/zc/art/2026/art_59973c0ea7a94353a423f0c014043df2.html
https://www.mofcom.gov.cn/zcfb/zc/art/2026/art_0c3bb2f0cf864546abf40299beb920c4.html