Review №27 of Chinese Antitrust News from the Experts of the BRICS Competition Centre
- Beijing to Improve Food Delivery Algorithms in Couriers’ Interests
- KPPU Investigation into TikTok
- Eight Polysilicon Producers Pledge to Maintain Fair Prices
- CAC Launches Cybersecurity Review of Palo Alto Networks Products
- Industry Associations Organize Anti-Competitive Agreements Among Driving Schools
- Accelerated Review of the Measures for Implementing the Fair Competition Review Regulations
Beijing to Improve Food Delivery Algorithms in Couriers’ Interests
Beijing Municipal Administration for Market Regulation held consultations on improving algorithms used by food delivery platforms. Representatives of the three largest services—Meituan, Taobao Flash Sale, and JD.com — along with industry experts and members of the Beijing Municipal People’s Congress, were invited to participate in the dialogue.
At the meeting, the platforms heard the participants’ demands and proposals and suggested a number of measures to be implemented in the capital:
- Adjust delivery-time calculation algorithms: introduce a function that pauses the timer while couriers are waiting at traffic lights; ensure that the average delivery speed for scooters does not exceed 15 km/h; add extra time for bad weather and difficult road conditions, etc.
- Launch an AI agent, “Smart Courier,” to assist with delivery management, including alerts about traffic lights, high-risk accident zones, speeding, wrong-way driving, and other hazards.
- Make algorithms more transparent by publishing information openly and holding presentations and Q&A sessions.
Source: WeChat
KPPU Investigation into TikTok
Indonesia’s Competition Commission (KPPU) has launched an antitrust investigation into TikTok. The investigation will examine TikTok’s relationships with sellers on the platform and third-party logistics companies to determine whether there are barriers to market entry or obstacles to competition. It will focus on potential violations of several provisions of Indonesia’s Law No. 5 of 1999 on the Prohibition of Monopolistic Practices and Unfair Business Competition, including provisions concerning vertical integration, monopolies, market control, and predatory pricing.
Source: WeChat
Eight Polysilicon Producers Pledge to Maintain Fair Prices
On July 31, SAMR issued pricing guidelines for the photovoltaic industry. Following the publication of the document, eight of China’s largest polysilicon producers signed an anticompetitive initiative. The companies jointly pledged not to sell materials for photovoltaic products below cost, to strictly comply with the new energy-consumption standards, and to actively phase out outdated, energy-intensive production capacity.
Together, these eight companies account for more than 90% of China’s effective polysilicon production capacity.
Source: WeChat
CAC Launches Cybersecurity Review of Palo Alto Networks Products
The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) has launched a cybersecurity review of Palo Alto Networks products sold in China. According to the regulator, the review is intended to ensure the secure and stable operation of critical information infrastructure, prevent cybersecurity threats, and safeguard national security.
Palo Alto Networks is a U.S. cybersecurity company founded in 2005. Its core business areas include firewalls, cloud security, and cyberthreat protection. In 2021, the company established a subsidiary in Shanghai, as well as branches in Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen.
Industry Associations Organize Anti-Competitive Agreements Among Driving Schools
In July 2026, SAMR issued an administrative penalty decision concerning the driver-training sector. Under the leadership of a municipal automobile transportation association, 12 driving schools developed “price self-regulation measures,” which resulted in higher prices. The regulator determined that this constituted an anticompetitive agreement and fined the association approximately $75,000, while the driving schools were fined a combined total of more than $200,000.
According to the regulator, since 2022, industry associations have been responsible for organizing anticompetitive practices in more than 30% of all competition cases in the driver-training sector. They organized meetings, signed agreements, and formed alliances to standardize prices, divide markets, and allocate profits.
Wang Xianlin, a professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, notes that anticompetitive practices in the industry cause multiple forms of harm: they increase the cost of services, undermine a fair competitive ecosystem, and lead to lower-quality driver training, which in turn contributes to a higher risk of accidents.
The market regulator intends to crack down firmly on violations in driver-training services, improve interagency mechanisms for coordinated supervision, and protect public welfare through strict enforcement.
Accelerated Review of the Measures for Implementing the Fair Competition Review Regulations
Zhao Chunlei, Deputy Director of SAMR’s Competition Coordination Department, said that, based on two years of experience implementing the Fair Competition Review Regulations, the agency is currently working intensively on revising the Measures for their implementation. She also noted that SAMR will continue to step up its efforts in three areas:
- Assist local authorities in conducting reviews according to the highest standards;
- Accelerate the development of guidelines for fair competition review in the area of fiscal subsidies;
- Promote the nationwide implementation of the fair competition review system.
Source: WeChat
