Global Trade Alert

On 21 Jul 2015, the Ministry of Culture issued Notice No. 576 of 2015, canceling the 14 year-long ban on video game console production by foreign companies in China. 
 
On the basis of this Notice foreign companies can now produce and sell their video game consoles nationwide. However, companies should apply for the approval from culture departments on the provincial level, and the application process will take up to 20 days. Companies are also required to follow the content regulations from the Ministry of Culture to ensure their products are in line with the public interest.
 
The described intervention follows the successful example of a similar liberalization restricted to the Shanghai Free Trade Zone.