BIZCHINA / Organizations
Main responsibilities of the Ministry of Commerce
(mofcom.gov.cn)
Updated: 2006-11-16 10:52
1. To formulate development strategies, guidelines and policies of
domestic and foreign trade and international economic cooperation, draft
laws and regulations governing domestic and foreign trade, economic
cooperation and foreign investment, devise implementation rules and
regulations. To study and put forward proposals on harmonizing domestic
legislations on trade and economic affairs as well as bringing Chinese
economic and trade laws into conformity with multilateral and bilateral
treaties and agreements.
2. To formulate development plans for domestic trade, study on and put
forth proposals on reforming the commercial distribution system, foster
and develop urban and rural markets, promote the restructuring of the
commercial distribution sector and the improvement of such modern
distribution modalities as chain store operation, modern logistics and
e-commerce.
3. To research into and formulate policies for regulating the market
operation and distribution order, breaking up market monopoly and
regional blockage, to set up and improve an integrated, open, competitive
and orderly market system. To monitor and analyze market activities and
commodity supply and demand, organize the adjustment of market supply of
main consumer goods and regulation of the distribution of major means of
production.
4. To study on and work out measures for the regulation of import and
export commodities and compile a catalogue thereof, organize the
implementation of import and export quota plan, decide on quota quantity
and issue licenses; to draft and implement import and export commodity
quota tendering policies.
5. To formulate and execute policies concerning trade in technology,
state import and export control, and policies encouraging the export of
technology and complete set of equipment; to push forward the
establishment of foreign trade standardization system; to supervise
technology import, equipment import, export of domestic technologies
subject to state export restriction and re-export of imported
technologies, and to issue export licenses pertaining to nuclear
non-proliferation.
6. To study on, put forth and implement multilateral and bilateral trade
and economic cooperation policies, be responsible for multilateral and
bilateral negotiations on trade and economic issues, coordinate domestic
positions in negotiating with foreign parties, and to sign the relevant
documents and monitor their implementation. To establish multilateral and
bilateral intergovernmental liaison mechanisms for economic and trade
affairs and organize the related work. To handle major issues in
country-specific economic and trade relationships, regulate trade and
economic activities with countries without diplomatic relationship with
China. In line with the mandate, to handle the relationship with the
World Trade Organization on behalf of the Chinese government, undertake
such responsibilities under the framework of the WTO as multilateral and
bilateral negotiations, trade policy reviews, dispute settlement, and
notifications and inquires.
7. To steer the work of the commercial branches of China��s Permanent
Mission to the WTO, to the UN and other relevant international
organizations, as well as Chinese embassies in foreign countries. To keep
in touch with the representative offices of multilateral and
international economic and trade organizations in China and the
commercial functions of foreign diplomatic missions in China.
(8) To organize and coordinate the work pertaining to antidumping,
countervailing, safeguard measures and other issues related to fair trade
for import and export. To institute a fair trade early warning mechanism
for import and export, and organize industry injury investigations. To
guide and coordinate domestic efforts in responding to foreign
antidumping, countervailing, and safeguard investigations and other
issues concerned.
(9) To give general guidance to nationwide efforts in foreign investment.
To analyze and look into China's foreign investment developments and
submit information concerning the developments and the corresponding
proposals to the State Council on a regular basis. To draw up and enforce
foreign investment policies and reform schemes, participate in the
formulation of mid-term and long-term planning and development strategies
for foreign investment utilization. To examine and approve, according to
relevant laws, the establishment and changes thereafter of
foreign-invested enterprises with foreign input exceeding the state fixed
amount, or engaged in restricted business areas, or in businesses subject
to quota and license administration. To verify the contracts and statutes
of large-scale projects with foreign investment and their major
subsequent changes particularly stipulated in relevant legislations. To
supervise the enforcement of laws, regulations, contracts and statutes by
foreign-invested enterprises. To guide and oversee nationwide efforts in
attracting foreign investment and other business opportunities, as well
as the establishment and trade performance of foreign-invested
enterprises in China. Comprehensively guide and coordinate the specific
work of state-level economic and technological development zones.
(10) To be responsible for China's foreign economic cooperation efforts.
To formulate and implement policies and regulations on foreign economic
cooperation, guide and monitor the regulation of overseas contract
projects, labor cooperation and designing and consulting businesses. To
work out administrative measures and specific policies guiding China��s
overseas investment. To approve Chinese companies to invest in and set up
overseas establishments (excluding financial companies) and supervise
their operation.
(11) To be in charge of China's efforts in providing aid to foreign
countries and regions. To formulate and implement China's foreign aid
policies and plans, and sign the relevant agreements. To compile and
execute annual foreign aid programs. To supervise and inspect the
implementation of China's foreign aid projects. To manage China's foreign
aid fund, concessional loans, special funds and other foreign aid funds
of the Chinese government. To facilitate the reform on foreign aid
provision modalities.
(12) To formulate and implement economic and trade policies as well as
mid-term and long-term trade planning for the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region (HK SAR), Macao Special Administrative Region
(Macao SAR) and Taiwan region. To hold economic and trade talks with the
competent authorities in charge of trade and economic affairs of HK SAR
and Macao SAR as well as authorized non-governmental organizations of
Taiwan and sign the relevant documents. To be in charge of the commercial
and trade liaison mechanism between the mainland and the HK SAR and Macao
SAR. To organize the direct trading activities with Taiwan, and to be
responsible for bilateral and multilateral trade issues involving Taiwan.
(13) To be responsible for the training, selection and management of
Chinese professionals working in the Permanent Mission of the People's
Republic of China To the World Trade Organization, the Economic and
Commercial Counselor��s Offices of the Chinese Embassies and missions to
other international organizations. To guide the work of the chambers of
commerce for import and export and other relevant associations and
societies.
(14) To undertake other assignments entrusted by the State Council.
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