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Home Living in China Chinese Law Foreign Trade Law of the People's Republic of China
Foreign Trade Law of the People's Republic of China
Chinese Law
Foreign Trade Law of the People's Republic of China
中华人民共和国对外贸易法
(Adopted at the Seventh Session of the Standing Committee of the Eighth National People's Congress on May 12, 1994)


Chapter I Principles

Article 1 This Law is formulated with a view to developing the foreign trade, maintaining the foreign trade order and promoting a healthy development of the socialist market economy.

Article 2 Foreign trade as mentioned in this Law shall cover the import and export of goods, technologies and the international trade in services.

Article 3 The authority responsible for foreign trade and economic relations under the State Council is in charge of the administration of the foreign trade of the entire country pursuant to this Law.

Article 4 The State shall apply the foreign trade system on a uniform basis and maintain a fair and free foreign trade order in accordance with law.

The State encourages the promotion of its foreign trade, exercises the initiative of localities and safeguards the autonomy of business operation of the foreign trade dealers.

Article 5 The People's Republic of China promotes and develops trade ties with other countires and regions on the principles of equality and mutual benefit.

Article 6 The People's Republic of China shall, under international treaties or agreements to which the People's Republic of China is a contracting party or a participating party, grant the other contracting parties or participating parties, or on the principles of mutual advantage and reciprocity, grant the other party most - favored - nation treatment or national treatment within the field of foreign trade.

Article 7 In the event that any country or region applies discriminatory prohibition, restriction or other like measures against the People's Republic of China in respect of trade, the People's Republic of China may, as the case may be, take counter - measures against the country or region in question.

Chapter II Foreign Trade Dealers

Article 8 Foreign trade dealers as mentioned in this Law shall cover the legal entities and other organizations engaged in foreign trade dealings in compliance with the provisions of this Law.

Article 9 A foreign trade dealer who intends to engage in the import and export of goods and technologies shall fulfill the following requirements and acquire the permit from the authority responsible for foreign trade and economic relations under the State Council:
1. having its own name and corporate structure;

2. having definite scope of business in foreign trade;

3. having place of business, financial resources and professional personnel essential to the foreign trade dealings which it intends to engage in;

4. having a required record of import and export which were effected on its behalf or having necessary sources of goods for import or export:

5. other requirements provided in relevant laws and administrative regulations.

The detailed rules for the implementation of the preceding paragraph are to be laid down by the State Council.

The enterprises with foreign investment shall be exempt from the permit requirement provided in paragraph 1 with respect to their import of non-productive articles for their own use, import of equipment's and raw materials and other articles necessary for their production as well as the export of the products they produce under the relevant provisions of laws and administrative regulations governing enterprises with foreign investment.

Article 10 The establishment and operation of enterprises and organizations engaged in international trade in services shall be in compliance with the provisions of this Law and other relevant laws and administrative regulations.

Article 11 Foreign trade dealers shall enjoy full autonomy in their business operation and be responsible for their own profits and losses in accordance with law.

Article 12 In foreign trade activities foreign trade dealers should honor their contracts, ensure the quality of the commodity and perfect the after-sale services.

Article 13 Any organization or individual without foreign trade operation permit may entrust a foreign trade dealer located in China as it s agent to conduct its foreign trade business within the business scope of the latter.

The entrusted foreign trade dealer shall provide the principal with actual business information such as market situation, commodity prices and client position. The agent and the principal shall conclude and sign an agency agreement, in which the rights and obligations of both parties should be specified.

Article 14 Foreign trade dealers are obligated to provide documents and information in relation to their foreign trade dealings to the relevant authorities pursuant to the regulations of the authority responsible of foreign trade and economic relations under the State Council. The relevant authorities shall not disclose the business proprietary information provided by the dealers.


Chapter III Import and Export of Goods and Technologies

Article 15 The State allows free import and export of goods and technologies except where laws or administrative regulations provided otherwise.

Article 16 The State may impose restrictions on the import or export of goods and technologies in any of the following circumstances:
1. where the import or export shall be restricted in order to safeguard the national security or public interest;

2. where the export shall be restricted on account of domestic shortage in supply or effective protection of exhaustible domestic resources;

3. where the export shall be restricted due to the limited market capacity of the importing country or region;

4. where the import shall be restricted in order to establish or accelerate the establishment of a particular domestic industry;

5. where the restriction on the import of agricultural, animal husbandry or fishery products in any form is necessary;

6. where the import shall be restricted in order to maintain the State's international financial status and the balance of international payments;

7. where, as the international treaties or agreements to which the People's Republic of China is a contracting party or a participating party require, the import or export shall be restricted.

Article 17 The States prohibits the import or export of any goods or technologies in any of the following circumstances;
1. where such goods or technologies will endanger national security or public interest;

2. where the import or export of such goods or technologies must be prohibited in order to protect human life or health;

3. where such goods or technologies will disrupt the ecological environment;

4. where the import or export of such goods or technologies shall be prohibited in accordance with the provisions of international treaties or agreements to which the People's Republic of China is a contracting party or a participating party.

Article 18 The authority responsible for foreign trade and economic relations under the State Council shall, in collaboration with the relevant authorities under the State Council and in accordance with the provision of Article 16, Article 17 of this Law, formulate, adjust and publish the list of goods and technologies whose import or export are subject to restrictions or prohibitions.

Upon the approval of the State Council the authority responsible for foreign trade and economic relations under the State Council may, within the framework of Article 16 and Article 17, independently or in collaboration with the relevant authorities under the State Council determine, on a temporary basis, to impose restriction or prohibition on the import or export of particular goods or technologies not included in the list mentioned in the preceding paragraph.

Article 19 Goods whose import or export is restricted shall be subject to quota and /or licensing control; technologies whose import or export is restricted shall be subject to licensing control.

Import or export of any goods and technologies subject to quota and /or licensing control will be effected only with the approval of the authority responsible for foreign trade and economic relations under the State Council or the joint approval of the preceding authorities and other authorities concerned under the State Council in compliance with the provisions of the State Council.

Article 20 Import and export quotas of goods shall be distributed on the basis of the conditions including but not limited to the actual import or export performance and capability of the applicants in foreign trade dealings and on the basis of the principles of efficiency, impartiality, transparency and fair competition by the authority responsible for foreign trade and economic relations under the State Council or the relevant authorities under the State Council within their respective responsibilities.

The ways and means of the distribution of quotas are to be regulated by the State Council.

Article 21 Where the import or export of goods, articles such as cultural relics, wildlife animals, plants and the products there of are prohibited or restricted by other laws or administrative regulations, the provisions of the laws and regulations in question shall be observed.


Chapter IV International Trade in Service

Article 22 The State promotes the progressive development of the international trade in services.

Article 23 With respect to international trade in services, the People's Republic of China , pursuant to the commitments made in international treaties or agreements to which the People's Republic of China is a contracting party or participating party, grants the other contracting parties and participating parties market access and national treatment.

Article 24 The State may restrict international trade in services on the basis of any of the following considerations:
1. In order to safeguard the national security or public interest;

2. In order to protect the ecological environment;

3. In order to establish or accelerate the establishment of a particular domestic service industry;

4. In order to maintain the State*s balance of international payments;

5. Other restrictions provided in relevant laws and administrative regulations.

Article 25 The Sate prohibits any international trade in services which:
1. may endanger national security or public interests;

2. is contrary to the international obligations undertaken by the People's Republic of China;

3. is prohibited by relevant laws and administrative regulations.

Article 26 The authority responsible for foreign trade and economic relations under the State Council and relevant authorities under the State Council are responsible for the administration of international trade in services in accordance with this Law and other relevant laws and administrative regulations.


Chapter V Foreign Trade Order

Article 27 In foreign trade activities, foreign trade dealers shall operate their business in accordance with law and abide by the principle of fair competition, and are prohibited from the following acts:
1. Forgery, distortion or trading of certificates of country of origin and import or export licenses;

2. Infringement on the intellectual property rights protected by the laws of the People's Republic of China;

3. Squeezing out competitors with undue conducts of competition;

4. Defrauding the State of refunded tax on exports;

5. Other acts contrary to the provisions of laws and administrative regulations.

Article 28 In foreign trade activities, foreign trade dealers shall settle and use foreign exchanges in accordance with relevant regulations of the State.

Article 29 Where a product is imported in such increased quantities as to cause or threaten to cause serious injury to domestic producers of like or directly competitive products, the State may take necessary safeguard measures to remove or ease such injury or threat of injury.

Article 30 Where a product is imported at less than normal value of the product and causes or threatens to cause material injury to an established domestic industry concerned, or materially retards the establishment of a particular domestic industry, the State may take necessary measures in order to remove or ease such injury or threat of injury or retardation.

Article 31 Where an imported product is subsidized in any form directly or indirectly by the country of export and causes or threatens to cause material injury to an established domestic industry concerned or materially retards the establishment of a domestic industry, the State may take necessary measures in order to remove or ease such injury or threat of injury or retardation.

Article 32 In the events referred to in Article 29, Article 30 and Article 31, the authority or agency designated by the State Council shall conduct investigations and make determinations in accordance with relevant laws and administrative regulations.


Chapter VI Promotion of Foreign Trade

Article 33 The State shall establish and improve financial institutions for foreign trade and establish funds for foreign trade development and risk as the development of foreign trade requires.

Article 34 The State may take foreign trade promotion measures such as import or export credit and export tax refund for the purpose of the development of foreign trade.

Article 35 Foreign trade dealers may establish or join Chambers of Commerce for Importers and Exporters in accordance with law.

Chambers of Commerce for Importers and Exporters shall abide by relevant laws and administrative regulations, coordinate and guide the foreign trade activities of their members under their Articles of Association, provide advisory services, report to the relevant authorities of the Government the suggestions of their members with respect to foreign trade promotion, and actively promote foreign trade.

Article 36 The international trade promotion organization of China shall, in accordance with its Articles of Association, engage in development of foreign trade relations, sponsor exhibitions, provide information and advisory services and carry out other foreign trade primitive activities.

Article 37 The State shall support and promote the development of foreign trade in national autonomous areas and economically under - developed areas.


Chapter VII Legal Liabilities

Article 38 Anyone who smuggles goods that are subject to import or export prohibitions or restrictions, and hereby commits criminal offenses, shall be subject to criminal prosecution pursuant to the Supplementary Decision on the Punishment of Smuggling Crimes. Those offenses of smuggling which do not constitute crimes shall be subject to sanctions under the provisions of the Customs Law. In addition, the authority responsible for foreign trade and economic relations under the State Council may withdraw the foreign trade operation permit of the offender in question.

Article 39 Anyone who commits forgery, distortion of certificates of country of origin or license for import or export shall be subject to criminal prosecution under Article 167 of the Criminal Law. Anyone who commits trading of certificates of country of origin or license for import or export or trading of forged or distorted certificates of country of origin of license for import or export shall be subject to criminal prosecution in the light of Article 167 of the Criminal Law.

Where the criminal offenses referred to in the preceding paragraph are committed by an entity, the entity in question shall be imposed fine while the persons in charge of the entity directly responsible for the offenses and other persons directly responsible for the offenses shall be subject to criminal prosecutions in accordance with or in the light of Article 167 of the Criminal Law. In addition, the authority responsible for foreign trade and economic relations under the State Council may withdraw the foreign trade operation permit of the entity in question.

Anyone who knowingly uses forged or distorted import or export license in importing or exporting goods shall be imposed sanctions in accordance with the provisions of Article 38 of this Law.

Article 40 Anyone who imports or exports technologies that are subject to import or export prohibitions or restrictions in violation of this Law and commits criminal offenses, shall be subject to criminal prosecutions in the light of the Supplementary Decision of the Punishment of Smuggling Crime.

Article 41 Personnel serving in the State's foreign trade authorities who commit any neglect of duty, malpractice, irregularities or abuse of power, which constitute criminal offenses, shall be subject to criminal prosecutions pursuant to law; as to those offenses which do not constitute crimes, administrative sanctions shall apply.

Personnel serving in the State's foreign trade authorities who extort property from others with job convenience or illegally receive others' property and seek advantages for them in return and thus commit criminal offenses shall be subject to criminal prosecutions in accordance with the Supplementary Decision on the Punishment of Embezzlement and Bribery Crimes; where such conducts do not constitute criminal offenses, administrative sanctions shall apply.


Chapter VIII Final Provisions

Article 42 The State applies flexible measures, provides favorable conditions and convenience to the trade between the towns on the frontier and those towns of neighboring countries on frontier as well as trade among border residents. Detailed rules are to be laid down by the State Council.

Article 43 This Law shall not apply to the separate customs territories of the People's Republic of China.

Article 44 This Law shall enter into force as of July 1st, 1994.


(English Translations are for reference only)

中华人民共和国对外贸易法
中华人民共和国主席令(八届第22号)
《中华人民共和国对外贸易法》已由中华人民共和国第八届全国人民代表大会常务委员会第七次会议于1994年5月12日通过,现予公布,自1994年7月1日起施行。
中华人民共和国主席 江泽民
1994年5月12日
1994年5月12日第八届全国人民代表大会常务委员会第七次会议通过

目 录

第一章 总 则

第二章 对外贸易经营者

第三章 货物进出口与技术进出口

第四章 国际服务贸易

第五章 对外贸易秩序

第六章 对外贸易促进

第七章 法律责任

第八章 附 则

第一章 总 则
第一条 为了发展对外贸易,维护对外贸易秩序,促进社会主义市场经济的健康发展,制定本法。
第二条 本法所称对外贸易,是指货物进出口、技术进出口和国际服务贸易。
第三条 国务院对外经济贸易主管部门依照本法主管全国对外贸易工作。
第四条 国家实行统一的对外贸易制度,依法维护公平的、自由的对外贸易秩序。
国家鼓励发展对外贸易,发挥地方的积极性,保障对外贸易经营者的经营自主权。
第五条 中华人民共和国根据平等互利的原则,促进和发展同其他国家和地区的贸易关系。
第六条 中华人民共和国在对外贸易方面根据所缔结或者参加的国际条约、协定,给予其他缔约方、参加方或者根据互惠、对等原则给予对方最惠国待遇、国民待遇。
第七条 任何国家或者地区在贸易方面对中华人民共和国采取歧视性的禁止、限制或者其他类似措施的,中华人民共和国可以根据实际情况对该国家或者该地区采取相应的措施。

第二章 对外贸易经营者
第八条 本法所称对外贸易经营者,是指依照本法规定从事对外贸易经营活动的法人和其他组织。
第九条 从事货物进出口与技术进出口的对外贸易经营,必须具备下列条件,经国务院对外经济贸易主管部门许可:
(一)有自己的名称和组织机构;
(二)有明确的对外贸易经营范围;
(三)具有其经营的对外贸易业务所必需的场所、资金和专业人员;
(四)委托他人办理进出口业务达到规定的实绩或者具有必需的进出口货源;
(五)法律、行政法规规定的其他条件。
前款规定的实施办法由国务院规定。
外商投资企业依照有关外商投资企业的法律、行政法规的规定,进口企业自用的非生产物品,进口企业生产所需的设备、原材料和其他物资,出口其生产的产品,免予办理第一款规定的许可。
第十条 国际服务贸易企业和组织的设立及其经营活动,应当遵守本法和其他有关法律、行政法规的规定。
第十一条 对外贸易经营者依法自主经营、自负盈亏。
第十二条 对外贸易经营者从事对外贸易经营活动,应当信守合同,保证商品质量,完善售后服务。
第十三条 没有对外贸易经营许可的组织或者个人,可以在国内委托对外贸易经营者在其经营范围内代为办理其对外贸易业务。
接受委托的对外贸易经营者应当向委托方如实提供市场行情、商品价格、客户情况等有关的经营信息。委托方与被委托方应当签订委托合同,双方的权利义务由合同约定。
第十四条 对外贸易经营者应当按照国务院对外经济贸易主管部门的规定,向有关部门提交与其对外贸易经营活动有关的文件及资料。有关部门应当为提供者保守商业秘密。

第三章 货物进出口与技术进出口
第十五条 国家准许货物与技术的自由进出口。但是,法律、行政法规另有规定的除外。
第十六条 属于下列情形之一的货物、技术,国家可以限制进口或者出口:
(一)为维护国家安全或者社会公共利益,需要限制进口或者出口的;
(二)国内供应短缺或者为有效保护可能用竭的国内资源,需要限制出口的;
(三)输往国家或者地区的市场容量有限,需要限制出口的;
(四)为建立或者加快建立国内特定产业,需要限制进口的;
(五)对任何形式的农业、牧业、渔业产品有必要限制进口的;
(六)为保障国家国际金融地位和国际收支平衡,需要限制进口的;
(七)根据中华人民共和国所缔结或者参加的国际条约、协定的规定,需要限制进口或者出口的。
第十七条 属于下列情形之一的货物、技术,国家禁止进口或者出口:
(一)危害国家安全或者社会公共利益的;
(二)为保护人的生命或者健康,必须禁止进口或者出口的;
(三)破坏生态环境的;
(四)根据中华人民共和国所缔结或者参加的国际条约、协定的规定,需要禁止进口或者出口的。
第十八条 国务院对外经济贸易主管部门应当会同国务院有关部门,依照本法第十六条、第十七条的规定,制定、调整并公布限制或者禁止进出口的货物、技术目录。
国务院对外经济贸易主管部门或者由其会同国务院有关部门,经国务院批准,可以在本法第十六条、第十七条规定的范围内,临时决定限制或者禁止前款规定目录以外的特定货物、技术的进口或者出口。
第十九条 对限制进口或者出口的货物,实行配额或者许可证管理;对限制进口或者出口的技术,实行许可证管理。
实行配额或者许可证管理的货物、技术,必须依照国务院规定经国务院对外经济贸易主管部门或者由其会同国务院有关部门许可,方可进口或者出口。
第二十条 进出口货物配额,由国务院对外经济贸易主管部门或者国务院有关部门在各自的职责范围内,根据申请者的进出口实绩、能力等条件,按照效益、公正、公开和公平竞争的原则进行分配。
配额的分配方式和办法由国务院规定。
第二十一条 对文物、野生动植物及其产品等货物、物品,其他法律、行政法规有禁止进出口或者限制进出口规定的,依照有关法律、行政法规的规定办理。

第四章 国际服务贸易
第二十二条 国家促进国际服务贸易的逐步发展。
第二十三条 中华人民共和国在国际服务贸易方面根据所缔结或者参加的国际条约、协定中所作的承诺,给予其他缔约方、参加方市场准入和国民待遇。
第二十四条 国家基于下列原因之一,可以限制国际服务贸易:
(一)为维护国家安全或者社会公共利益;
(二)为保护生态环境;
(三)为建立或者加快建立国内特定的服务行业;
(四)为保障国家外汇收支平衡;
(五)法律、行政法规规定的其他限制。
第二十五条 属于下列情形之一的国际服务贸易,国家予以禁止:
(一)危害国家安全或者社会公共利益的;
(二)违反中华人民共和国承担的国际义务的;
(三)法律、行政法规规定禁止的。
第二十六条 国务院对外经济贸易主管部门和国务院有关部门,依照本法和其他有关法律、行政法规,对国际服务贸易进行管理。

第五章 对外贸易秩序
第二十七条 对外贸易经营者在对外贸易经营活动中,应当依法经营,公平竞争,不得有下列行为:
(一)伪造、变造或者买卖进出口原产地证明、进出口许可证;
(二)侵害中华人民共和国法律保护的知识产权;
(三)以不正当竞争手段排挤竞争对手;
(四)骗取国家的出口退税;
(五)违反法律、行政法规规定的其他行为。
第二十八条 对外贸易经营者在对外贸易经营活动中,应当依照国家有关规定结汇、用汇。
第二十九条 因进口产品数量增加,使国内相同产品或者与其直接竞争的产品的生产者受到严重损害或者严重损害的威胁时,国家可以采取必要的保障措施,消除或者减轻这种损害或者损害的威胁。
第三十条 产品以低于正常价值的方式进口,并由此对国内已建立的相关产业造成实质损害或者产生实质损害的威胁,或者对国内建立相关产业造成实质阻碍时,国家可以采取必要措施,消除或者减轻这种损害或者损害的威胁或者阻碍。
第三十一条 进口的产品直接或者间接地接受出口国给予的任何形式的补贴,并由此对国内已建立的相关产业造成实质损害或者产生实质损害的威胁,或者对国内建立相关产业造成实质阻碍时,国家可以采取必要措施,消除或者减轻这种损害或者损害的威胁或者阻碍。
第三十二条 发生第二十九条、第三十条、第三十一条规定的情况时,国务院规定的部门或者机构应当依照法律、行政法规的规定进行调查,作出处理。

第六章 对外贸易促进
第三十三条 国家根据对外贸易发展的需要,建立和完善为对外贸易服务的金融机构,设立对外贸易发展基金、风险基金。
第三十四条 国家采取进出口信贷、出口退税及其他对外贸易促进措施,发展对外贸易。
第三十五条 对外贸易经营者可以依法成立和参加进出口商会。
进出口商会应当遵守法律、行政法规,依照章程对其会员的对外贸易经营活动进行协调指导,提供咨询服务,向政府有关部门反映会员有关对外贸易促进方面的建议,并积极开展对外贸易促进活动。
第三十六条 中国国际贸易促进组织依照章程开展对外联系,举办展览,提供信息、咨询服务和其他对外贸易促进活动。
第三十七条 国家扶持和促进民族自治地方和经济不发达地区发展对外贸易。

第七章 法律责任
第三十八条 走私禁止进出口或者限制进出口的货物,构成犯罪的,依照惩治走私罪的补充规定追究刑事责任;不构成犯罪的,依照海关法的规定处罚。国务院对外经济贸易主管部门并可以撤销其对外贸易经营许可。
第三十九条 伪造、变造进出口原产地证明、进出口许可证,依照刑法第一百六十七条的规定追究刑事责任;买卖进出口原产地证明、进出口许可证或者买卖伪造、变造的进出口原产地证明、进出口许可证,比照刑法第一百六十七条的规定追究刑事责任。
单位犯前款罪的,判处罚金,并对单位直接负责的主管人员和其他直接责任人员依照或者比照刑法第一百六十七条的规定追究刑事责任。国务院对外经济贸易主管部门并可以撤销其对外贸易经营许可。
明知是伪造、变造的进出口许可证而用以进口或者出口货物,依照本法第三十八条的规定处罚。
第四十条 违反本法规定,进口或者出口禁止进出口或者限制进出口的技术,构成犯罪的,比照惩治走私罪的补充规定追究刑事责任。
第四十一条 国家对外贸易工作人员玩忽职守、徇私舞弊或者滥用职权,构成犯罪的,依法追究刑事责任;不构成犯罪的,给予行政处分。
国家对外贸易工作人员利用职务上的便利,索取他人财物,或者非法收受他人财物为他人谋取利益,构成犯罪的,依照惩治贪污罪贿赂罪的补充规定追究刑事责任;不构成犯罪的,给予行政处分。

第八章 附 则
第四十二条 国家对边境城镇与接壤国家边境城镇之间的贸易以及边民互市贸易,采取灵活措施,给予优惠和便利。具体办法由国务院规定。
第四十三条 中华人民共和国的单独关税区不适用本法。
第四十四条 本法自1994年7月1日起施行。
 

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