The Decision of the State Council on Amending the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on International Ocean Shipping was published on September 28, 2025, by Order No. 817 of the State Council of the People's Republic of China. Adopted at the State Council's 68th Executive Meeting on September 12, 2025, this decision became operative on the day it was published. Decree No. 335 of the State Council of the People's Republic of China issued the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on International Ocean Shipping on December 11, 2001. Since then, there have been four changes to regulations.
The main amendments are as follows:
· (General Clauses) Article 2's second paragraph has been changed to read: International ship agency, international ship management, international maritime cargo handling, international maritime cargo storage, international maritime container stations and yards, and international shipping transaction platform services are among the auxiliary business activities associated with international ocean shipping that were mentioned in the paragraph before.
· A new Article 22 is introduced: Operators of international maritime transaction platforms must submit details including their name, registered location, contact information, platform service agreements, and shipping transaction rules to the transport authority under the State Council. The specific implementation measures will be determined by the competent transport authority of the State Council.
· A new Article 39 is introduced: If an international shipping transaction platform operator fails to submit the required information, the transport authority under the State Council or the authorized local transport authority shall instruct the operator to provide the information within a specified deadline. Failure to comply within the given timeframe will result in a fine ranging from RMB 20,000 to RMB 100,000. In cases of serious violations, the operator may be ordered to suspend the relevant business activities.
· Article 46 is renumbered as Article 48: If a country or region that has entered into or jointly participated in an international maritime treaty or agreement with the People’s Republic of China violates its provisions resulting in the loss or impairment of China’s rights or benefits under the treaty, or obstructing the realization of its objectives the Chinese government has the right to request that the government of the offending country or region cease such actions, take corrective measures, and may, in
accordance with the relevant treaty or agreement, suspend or terminate the fulfillment of corresponding obligations.
· Furthermore, if any country or region enforces, assists, or supports discriminatory bans, restrictions, or similar measures against Chinese operators, vessels, or crew members engaged in international maritime transport and related services, and the relevant treaty or agreement does not provide sufficient and effective relief, the Chinese government may adopt necessary countermeasures based on actual circumstances. These measures may include, but are not limited to, imposing special charges on vessels from that country or region calling at Chinese ports, restricting or prohibiting their entry or departure from Chinese ports, and limiting or prohibiting organizations and individuals from that country or region from accessing China’s international maritime data or engaging in international maritime transport and related business activities involving Chinese ports.
· Terminology Revision: In these Regulations, the term “competent transport department” has been updated to “competent transportation department.”
This amendment seeks to address emerging needs within the industry and, by closing existing regulatory gaps, provides a stronger legal framework to support the orderly and well-regulated functioning of China’s international maritime shipping market.
