China’s supreme court strengthens antitrust efforts to support unified national market

China's top court has pledged to continue handling monopoly-related disputes with fairness and efficiency, while progressively refining adjudication rules. This effort aims to bolster judicial support for establishing a unified national market and fostering a competitive environment conducive to high-quality development.

On Thursday, the Supreme People's Court unveiled details of six landmark antitrust cases, urging courts nationwide to intensify judicial efforts to uphold competition order, safeguard the legitimate rights of market entities, and promote healthy industrial growth.

The disclosed cases address critical legal issues such as exclusive dealing, discriminatory practices, and unfair pricing related to the abuse of market dominance, as well as the identification of horizontal monopoly agreements. They span sectors essential to daily life, including agricultural wholesale, vehicle inspection, cement and concrete, and producer services like electroplating wastewater treatment and piped steam.

The top court highlighted that these cases involve producer services that directly impact the production costs and market competitiveness of both upstream and downstream firms. When adjudicating such monopoly disputes, courts across the country must accurately identify abuses of market dominance, ensure that small and medium-sized enterprises have equal access to essential services, and protect competition within upstream and downstream markets. Judges are also urged to respect market dynamics and apply relevant tests judiciously, avoiding the unnecessary inclusion of normal pricing behavior under antitrust scrutiny.

By clearly delineating these boundaries, Chinese courts can promote healthy interactions and coordinated development between upstream and downstream companies, thereby enhancing the resilience and competitiveness of industrial and supply chains.