NDRC sets up new unit to local govts' intervention in pricing behavior

The nation's top pricing regulator on Tuesday established a new division in charge of restricting local governments from intervening in pricing behavior.

The new division, led by the pricing supervision bureau of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), will focus on dealing with local governments' involvement in administrative monopoly abuse, referring to acts of issuing discriminatory conditions for market entry or use goods and services provided by preferred producers, according to the commission.

In 2017, the commission issued more than 30 administrative warnings to local government departments involved in such behaviors.

Local departments were asked to refrain from administrative intervention, according to the NDRC.