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Foreign-Trade National-Security Investigation 对外贸易国家安全调查

Procedure-based mechanism · administered by the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM)

At a glance

Legal basis

Administering bodies

Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) Opens, conducts and publishes the investigation and its result

Publication

Always

MOFCOM opens an investigation by public announcement; the cited action is MOFCOM Announcement No. 33 of 2026.

Published cases

1

published case

When it applies

  • The matter concerns national-security interests in foreign trade and an investigation is undertaken to safeguard the foreign-trade order.
原文Chinese source text为了维护对外贸易秩序，商务部可以自行或者会同国务院其他有关部门，就对外贸易中有关国家安全利益的事项进行调查。

Procedure

  1. Investigation opened

    MOFCOM opens the investigation by publishing an announcement.

  2. Evidence gathered

    Written questionnaires, hearings, on-site investigation and commissioned investigation may be used.

  3. Result published

    MOFCOM issues an investigation report or handling determination based on the result and publishes an announcement.

Published cases

1

Each case summary shows the action date, issuing body and named parties or subject. Expand a case to view the cited grounds, scope and effects.

Types of official action

  • Investigation opened
  • Investigation extended
  • Investigation concluded
Investigation opened Announcement opening a foreign-trade national-security investigation concerning certain imported printing and copying office equipment Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) · 商务部公告2026年第33号 SubjectThe investigation concerns imported office equipment with printing and copying functions that is installed with foreign system software. Foreign system software means driver software and embedded software developed, tested or maintained by a foreign person or entity.

The opening announcement concerns an investigation, not an entity designation or a finding on the investigation's merits.

Basis stated in the announcement

Preliminary information indicated that imported printing and copying office equipment installed with foreign system software might affect national-security interests in foreign trade and met the circumstances stated in Article 41 of the Foreign Trade Law. Unofficial translation

原文Chinese source text初步信息显示，装有外国系统软件的进口打印复印办公设备可能影响对外贸易中的国家安全利益，符合《中华人民共和国对外贸易法》第四十一条规定的情形。

Scope stated in the announcement

The investigation concerns imported office equipment with printing and copying functions that is installed with foreign system software. Foreign system software means driver software and embedded software developed, tested or maintained by a foreign person or entity. Unofficial translation

原文Chinese source text本次调查对象为装有外国系统软件的具有打印、复印功能的进口办公设备。外国系统软件是指由外国个人或实体开发、测试或维护的驱动软件和嵌入式软件。

Effect stated in the announcement

MOFCOM decided to investigate matters concerning national-security interests in foreign trade from 5 August 2026. Unofficial translation

原文Chinese source text商务部决定自2026年8月5日起就对外贸易中有关国家安全利益的事项进行调查。

Timing stated in the announcement

The investigation should end within 12 months of the opening announcement and may be extended in special circumstances. Unofficial translation

原文Chinese source text本次调查应在立案决定公告之日起12个月内结束，特殊情况下可延长。

Comments on the opening and procedure: 30 days from publication.

View official announcement

Completion or ending

Suspension, termination conditions and other outcomes stated in the governing instrument.

  1. Statutory routeInvestigation period ends

    The cited investigation should end within 12 months; special circumstances may extend it.

  2. Stated outcomeResult announced

    MOFCOM publishes the investigation report or handling determination.

Sources on this page

  1. [1] Doc 中华人民共和国对外贸易法（2025年修订） 2025-12-27 official ↗
  2. [2] Doc 商务部公告2026年第33号 2026-08-05 official ↗