On 24 February 2026, China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (“SAMR”) issued the Regulations on the Protection of Trade Secrets (Announcement No. 126 of the State Administration for Market Regulation), which will take effect on 1 June 2026 and replace the Provisions on Prohibiting the Infringement of Trade Secrets of 1995.
Overall, the new Regulations modernise China’s trade secret protection regime by aligning legal standards with contemporary commercial and technological realities.
By clarifying protection standards, refining the scope of protectable subject matter and confidentiality requirements, and strengthening enforcement mechanisms, the Regulations provide a clearer, more practical and more effective framework for the protection of confidential business information.
