COVID-19: Chinese Antitrust Regulators Have Taken Actions

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, we have seen the Chinese antitrust authority, the State Administration for Market Regulation ("SAMR"), taken vigorous actions in response to the epidemic. On one hand, SAMR has shown that it will not hesitate to take actions on companies taking advantage of the crisis to conduct monopolistic practices. On the other hand, a flexible application of antitrust rules is adopted, including opens a "green channel" for mergers and grants exemptions to cooperation of companies, in sectors closely related to the prevention and control of COVID-19 and the resumption of work and industrial production. In addition, SAMR has also strengthened the policy support for the Fair Competition Review System.