On December 1, 2020, China’s Export Control Law officially took effect. The NPC Observer, a site dedicated to tracking China’s legislative processes,
described the law as “China’s first omnibus national legislation on export controls,” and as such it has the potential to reshape China’s trade with the world. In particular, it offers another tool for the Chinese Communist Party to use economic relations to advance national interests.
(An unofficial English translation is
available here, courtesy of the international law firm Covington & Burling LLP; all quotes from the law use this translation.)
The first draft and a call for public comments appeared in June 2017; the final version was passed by the National People’s Congress Standing Committee on October 17, 2020.
