Nine departments: Strictly investigate monopoly agreements in the field of platform economy

　　According to the website of the National Development and Reform Commission, the National Development and Reform Commission and nine other departments recently issued the "Several Opinions on Promoting the Healthy and Sustainable Development of the Platform Economy" (hereinafter referred to as the "Opinions"). The "Opinions" proposes to strictly investigate and deal with monopoly agreements in the field of platform economy, abuse of market dominance and illegal implementation of concentration of undertakings in accordance with the law.

　　The "Opinions" pointed out that the platform economy is a new economic form with the Internet platform as the main carrier, data as the key production factor, the new generation of information technology as the core driving force, and the network information infrastructure as the important support. In recent years, the mainland platform economy has developed rapidly, and its position and role in the overall situation of economic and social development have become increasingly prominent.

　　The "Opinions" require that the key industries and fields that have strong reactions from the people be strengthened in the supervision and enforcement of the whole chain of competition. Lawfully investigate and deal with acts such as monopoly and unfair competition in the field of platform economy. Strictly investigate and deal with monopoly agreements in the field of platform economy, abuse of market dominance, and illegal implementation of concentration of undertakings in accordance with law. Strengthen platform advertising-oriented supervision, and strengthen supervision of advertising in key areas. Focus on regulating issues such as misleading consumers with reduced allocation and quality reduction products, and the platform's failure to review the market access qualifications of the goods sold, and implement the obligations related to the recall of online business operators' products for defective consumer goods. Intensify the crackdown on illegal operations of platform enterprises in the field of mobility. Strengthen the tax assistance obligations of platform enterprises such as the submission of tax-related information, strengthen the tax supervision of platform enterprises, and investigate and deal with tax-related violations such as false invoicing and tax evasion in accordance with law. Strengthen the management and supervision of platform deposits, prepayments, margins and other fees.

　　The "Opinions" clearly stipulates that platform enterprises are supported to promote the "going out" of digital products and services, enhance their ability to develop internationally, and enhance their international competitiveness. Actively participate in the formulation of relevant international rules such as cross-border data flow and digital economy taxation, participate in international coordination of anti-monopoly and anti-unfair competition, give full play to the pilot free trade zone and free trade port as the first to test, promote the construction of mutually beneficial and win-win international economic and trade rules, and create a good environment for the international development of platform enterprises. Cultivate specialized intermediary services such as intellectual property rights, commercial coordination, and legal counsel, explore convenient judicial coordination, investment protection, and relief mechanisms on a pilot basis, strengthen working mechanisms such as overseas intellectual property risk early warning, rights protection assistance, and dispute mediation, and protect the legitimate rights and interests of mainland platform enterprises and operators overseas. Encourage platform enterprises to develop cross-border e-commerce, actively promote the construction of overseas warehouses, improve the level of digitalization, intelligence and convenience, and promote small and medium-sized enterprises to rely on cross-border e-commerce platforms to expand the international market. Actively promote the construction of overseas economic and trade cooperation zones, and cultivate cross-border e-commerce industry chains and ecosystems such as warehousing, logistics, payment, customs clearance, and foreign exchange settlement. (Zhongxin Jingwei APP)