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China's 2026 Commerce Work Conference: Key Takeaways for Foreign Founders
A practical guide for foreign entrepreneurs on China's 2026 commerce priorities—boosting consumption, stabilizing trade, attracting foreign investment, and expanding opening-up—based on the national commerce work conference held in Beijing on January 10–11.
What the 2026 National Commerce Work Conference Means for Your China Operations
On January 10–11, China's Ministry of Commerce held its annual National Commerce Work Conference in Beijing. The meeting reviewed 2025 and the 14th Five-Year Plan period, outlined goals for the 15th Five-Year Plan, and set priorities for 2026. Commerce Minister Wang Wentao delivered the work report, and Li Chenggang, Deputy Minister and International Trade Representative, chaired the session. For foreign founders registering or running a company in China, the conference signals where policy support and market opportunities will be concentrated in the year ahead.
2025 in Review: Stability and Structural Improvement
The conference described 2025 as a year of significant challenges, with the commerce system working to implement central government decisions. It reported that overall commerce development remained stable with progress, highlighting four outcomes:
- Consumption support: Consumer promotion measures, including trade-in programs for consumer goods, were expanded and produced visible results.
- Foreign trade: Trade grew despite external pressure, with efforts to diversify markets and develop new drivers such as services and digital trade.
- Foreign investment: The structure of utilized foreign capital improved, supported by the ongoing "Invest in China" branding and pilot free trade zone upgrades.
- Outbound investment: Overseas investment proceeded in an orderly manner, with improved management and services.
These points matter for foreign founders because they indicate continued official attention to making China an attractive destination for foreign capital and to keeping trade channels open.
2026 Priorities: Eight Areas That Affect Foreign Businesses
The conference identified eight key tasks for 2026. Below are those most relevant to foreign-owned companies and startups.
1. Consumption Promotion and the "Buy in China" Brand
China will deepen its special campaign to boost consumption and build the "Buy in China" brand. Specific measures include cultivating new growth areas in services consumption, optimizing trade-in policies for consumer goods, creating an internationalized consumption environment, and developing digital, green, and health consumption. For foreign founders in retail, consumer goods, or services, these policies may lower barriers to tapping domestic demand and support market entry.
2. Modern Market and Circulation System
The conference called for advancing the building of a unified national market, strengthening institutional safeguards, improving retail innovation, and integrating domestic and foreign trade. This suggests a push toward more consistent rules across regions, which can reduce compliance complexity for foreign-invested enterprises operating in multiple provinces.
3. Trade Innovation and the "Export China" Brand
Trade policy will focus on upgrading goods trade, expanding services trade (including encouraging service exports), and innovating digital and green trade. The aim is to integrate trade and investment. Foreign founders using China as an export base may find new support for services exports and digital trade models.
4. Attracting Foreign Investment and the "Invest in China" Brand
China will work to create new advantages in attracting foreign investment, including orderly opening of the services sector, improving investment promotion, and strengthening the foreign investment service and protection system. This is directly relevant to foreign founders: expect continued efforts to streamline investment procedures and protect foreign investors' legitimate rights.
5. Opening-Up Pilots and High-Standard Rules
The conference emphasized implementing the pilot free trade zone upgrade strategy, further liberalizing and facilitating trade and investment in the Hainan Free Trade Port, and improving the quality of opening-up platforms and key exhibitions. Foreign founders considering location options may benefit from the special regimes in FTZs and Hainan.
6. Outbound Investment Management and Supply Chain Cooperation
China will guide outbound investment and cross-border supply chain layout in a rational and orderly manner, improve overseas comprehensive services, and deepen Belt and Road economic and trade cooperation. While aimed at Chinese companies going global, these measures can also create partnership opportunities for foreign firms in third markets.
7. Multilateral and Bilateral Economic Cooperation
China will continue to engage in multilateral and regional mechanisms, advance regional and bilateral trade and investment agreements, and expand its free trade area network. For foreign founders, this may lead to more favorable rules of origin and market access through China's expanding FTA partners.
8. Risk Prevention and Openness Security
The conference stressed improving foreign-related legal systems, export control and security review mechanisms, and trade risk prevention. Foreign companies should stay informed about compliance requirements, especially in sensitive sectors.
What This Means for Foreign Founders
The conference confirms that China's commerce policy in 2026 will continue to balance openness with security. For foreign entrepreneurs, the practical takeaways are:
- Services and consumption are priority areas with likely policy support.
- Free trade zones and Hainan remain testbeds for liberalized rules.
- Foreign investment protection is emphasized, which can reduce operational uncertainty.
- Compliance with export control and security review rules is increasingly important.
While the conference does not provide specific incentives for individual companies, it sets the direction for implementing agencies. Foreign founders should monitor follow-up regulations from MOFCOM and local commerce authorities.
Next Steps
If you are considering registering a company in China or expanding your existing operations, understanding these policy directions can help you align your business plan with China's priorities. For personalized guidance, foreign founders can contact ChinaMNC on WhatsApp / WeChat at +86 153 1898 8535 for help registering and operating a company in China.
This summary is based on information published by the relevant Chinese government website and is general information, not legal or tax advice.