​The Shanghai Municipal Administration for Market Regulation convened a roundtable on Dec 16 to address the development needs of foreign-invested enterprises in the city, part of ongoing efforts to improve the business environment and support their growth.

Representatives from 15 companies and the American Chamber of Commerce in China attended the meeting. The attendees shared their insights and requests regarding issues they face in areas such as regulatory enforcement, fair competition, intellectual property protection, and market access.

The administration reaffirmed its commitment to responding to the concerns of foreign-invested enterprises and said it will intensify efforts to streamline and accelerate registration procedures for such companies.

The department also plans to encourage greater participation by foreign-invested enterprises in standardization work. Through the Shanghai Foreign-funded Enterprises Standardization Collaboration Platform, companies will be supported in participating in the formulation and revision of standards, ensuring equal access to standardization-related policies and benefits.

Law enforcement involving foreign-invested enterprises will be further optimized, with expanded use of risk- and credit-based classification inspections, as well as increased reliance on non-intrusive and remote checks. The approach is intended to strengthen compliance guidance while maintaining a balanced and prudent regulatory framework, reinforcing investor confidence.

The administration also pledged to step up protection of innovation by intensifying intellectual property enforcement and cracking down on violations involving trademarks, patents, geographical indications, and trade secrets. Coordination action will also target profit-driven malicious claims and reports to safeguard lawful business operations.

In addition, the administration plans to establish a regular communication mechanism with foreign-invested enterprises, expand dialogue channels, and implement a "service package" system for key foreign-funded firms.

By translating enterprises' "wish lists" into concrete "service lists", the administration said it aims to respond more proactively to companies' needs and provide comprehensive support for their development in Shanghai.

Source: Shanghai Municipal Administration for Market Regulation