China Country Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in china, prepared by at U.S. Embassies worldwide by Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals
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Trade Barriers
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While China revised laws and regulations to meet certain obligations related to its accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001, significant trade barriers for U.S. companies persist. These include non-transparent regulatory processes, selective enforcement of laws, growing localization pressures—including China’s pursuit of unique national standards and informal domestic content preferences, cybersecurity-related restrictions, and sector-specific investment barriers. The U.S. government continues to press China to fully comply with its WTO commitments and remove market access impediments.

For more information on specific barriers, please see the U.S. Trade Representative’s 2025 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers. 

A report on China’s compliance with WTO rules since joining that organization is published by the United States Trade Representative (USTR). Please refer to USTR’s 2024 Report to Congress on China’s WTO Compliance for more details.