Ministry of Commerce: Initiate a foreign trade and national security investigation into imported printing and copying office equipment

The Zhitong Finance App learned that on August 5, the Ministry of Commerce announced the launch of a foreign trade and national security investigation into the relevant imported printing and copying office equipment. According to Article 41 of the Foreign Trade Law of the People's Republic of China, in order to maintain foreign trade order, the Ministry of Commerce may investigate matters relating to national security interests in foreign trade on its own or with other relevant departments under the State Council. Preliminary information indicates that imported printing and copying office equipment equipped with foreign system software may affect national security interests in foreign trade, in line with the provisions of Article 41 of the Foreign Trade Law of the People's Republic of China. According to the provisions of Articles 41 and 42 of the Foreign Trade Law of the People's Republic of China, the Ministry of Commerce decided to investigate matters relating to national security interests in foreign trade starting August 5, 2026.

The original text is as follows:

Ministry of Commerce Notice No. 33 of 2026 announced the initiation of a foreign trade and national security investigation into imported printing and copying office equipment

According to Article 41 of the Foreign Trade Law of the People's Republic of China, in order to maintain foreign trade order, the Ministry of Commerce may investigate matters relating to national security interests in foreign trade on its own or with other relevant departments under the State Council.

Preliminary information indicates that imported printing and copying office equipment equipped with foreign system software may affect national security interests in foreign trade, in line with the provisions of Article 41 of the Foreign Trade Law of the People's Republic of China.

According to the provisions of Articles 41 and 42 of the Foreign Trade Law of the People's Republic of China, the Ministry of Commerce decided to investigate matters relating to national security interests in foreign trade starting August 5, 2026. The relevant matters are now announced as follows:

I. Subject of investigation and investigation matters

(1) The subject of the investigation.

The survey targets imported office equipment with printing and copying functions equipped with foreign system software.

Foreign system software refers to driver software and embedded software developed, tested, or maintained by a foreign individual or entity.

(2) Investigative matters.

To assess the impact of goods, technology and services in foreign trade on China's national security interests, investigation authorities may investigate the following matters:

(1) The import situation of the survey target;

(2) Situations where imported products, technology or services affect national security interests;

(3) Domestic demand in related fields and dependence on foreign goods, technology or services;

(4) The development status of relevant industries in China and their impact on imports;

(5) The ability and level of relevant industries in China to meet domestic needs and national security interests;

(6) The impact of relevant foreign government policies and measures on China's national security interests;

(7) Other matters affecting the security interests of countries in foreign trade.

II. Investigative procedures

According to Article 42 of the Foreign Trade Law of the People's Republic of China, investigations may be carried out by means of written questionnaires, hearings, field investigations, and commissioned investigations. The Ministry of Commerce submits an investigation report or processing ruling based on the investigation results, and issues an announcement.

III. Investigation period

The investigation shall be completed within 12 months from the date of the announcement of the decision to file the case, and may be extended under special circumstances.

IV. Access to public information

During the investigation, stakeholders can search for public information on the case through the Trade Remedies Investigation Bureau sub-website of the Ministry of Commerce website, or go to the Trade Remedies Disclosure Information Review Office of the Ministry of Commerce (Tel: 0086-10-65197878) to search, read, transcribe and copy the public information on the case.

V. SUBMISSION OF COMMENTS

Interested parties may submit comments in writing on issues relating to case filing and investigation procedures to the Trade Remedies Investigation Bureau of the Ministry of Commerce within 30 days from the date of publication of this notice.

6. Submission and processing of information

Stakeholders should submit comments, responses, etc. during the investigation process through the “Trade Remedies Investigation Informatization Platform” (https://etrb.mofcom.gov.cn)提交电子版本，并根据商务部的要求，同时提交书面版本). The content of the electronic version and the written version should be the same, and the format should be consistent.

If interested parties believe that the information they have provided will have serious adverse effects after being leaked, they may apply to the Ministry of Commerce for treatment in accordance with confidential information and explain the reasons. If the Ministry of Commerce agrees to the request, the interested party applying for confidentiality shall also provide a non-confidential summary of the confidential information. The non-confidential summary should include sufficient and meaningful information to enable other stakeholders to have a reasonable understanding of the classified information. If a non-confidential summary cannot be provided, the reasons should be explained. If the information submitted by the interested party does not indicate that it needs to be kept confidential, the Ministry of Commerce will treat the information as public information.

7. Contact Information

Address: No. 2 East Chang'an Street, Beijing

Postcode: 100731

Trade Remedies Investigation Bureau, Ministry of Commerce

Tel: 0086-10-65198474, 65198194

Fax: 0086-10-65198172

Website: https://trb.mofcom.gov.cn

Ministry of Commerce of the PRC

August 5, 2026

This article was selected from the “Ministry of Commerce” official website, Zhitong Finance Editor: Liu Jiayin.