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China's 15th Five-Year Plan: What Foreign Founders Should Know About Market Access, Trade and Investment

A practical overview for foreign founders of China's commerce priorities for the 15th Five-Year Plan period, based on an official State Council Information Office briefing with Ministry of Commerce officials — covering consumption, free trade agreements, foreign investment services and compliance.

Why This Briefing Matters for Foreign Founders

At a State Council Information Office press conference on the "15th Five-Year Plan" theme, Vice Minister of Commerce Jiang Chenghua and senior officials from the market operations, foreign trade, outbound investment and foreign investment departments set out the commerce ministry's priorities. For foreign founders building or running a company in China, the briefing signals where market access, trade facilitation and investor services are heading — and where compliance expectations are tightening.

Starting Point: Results From the 14th Five-Year Plan Period

The officials summarized the previous five-year period as a foundation for what comes next. Key points relevant to foreign businesses:

• Retail sales of consumer goods passed the 40 trillion yuan and then the 50 trillion yuan marks.
• Goods trade exceeded US$6 trillion, while services trade topped US$1 trillion.
• FDI inflows over the five years totaled more than US$750 billion.
• Non-financial outbound direct investment reached nearly 190 countries and regions, exceeding US$800 billion over the period.

For the first three quarters of 2026, the ministry reported retail sales of goods and services up 2.6% year on year, goods imports and exports up 18.8%, actual use of foreign capital of 548.8 billion yuan, and non-financial ODI of US$101 billion. Officials also said China-US and China-EU trade relations had been kept broadly stable after difficult negotiations.

Four Priorities Under the 15th Five-Year Plan

1. Consumption: More Room for Foreign Brands and Services

The ministry described consumption as shifting toward services, upgraded goods and new formats, while noting that domestic supply still outpaces demand and that constraints on spending remain. Planned measures focus on improving supply, creating new consumption scenarios and upgrading facilities. Practical read-across for founders: consumer-facing products and services, including new formats, remain a policy priority.

2. Opening Up: Market Access and Investor Services

Officials said China will expand autonomous opening in a steady, orderly way, implement an upgrade strategy for pilot free trade zones, promote the "Export to China" brand, and continue building the "Invest in China" brand with a stronger service and support system for foreign investors. For companies already registered in China or considering entry, this points to continued emphasis on inward investment facilitation. The ministry also said it will improve the management system for outbound investment and overseas services.

3. Global Economic Governance and New Rules

The ministry reaffirmed support for the WTO-centered multilateral trading system, a wider network of high-standard free trade areas, and rule-making in digital and green fields, including work on international trade rules for artificial intelligence. Founders in tech, data and green industries should expect new rule frameworks to develop in these areas.

4. Risk Prevention and Compliance

Officials said the ministry will improve risk prevention in commerce, refine trade friction response mechanisms, make use of trade remedy investigations, and improve export control and security review systems, along with laws and regulations on countering sanctions, interference and long-arm jurisdiction. Companies should treat export control, security review and trade remedy exposure as live compliance issues.

Free Trade Agreements: What Changes for Cross-Border Operations

Jiang said China has signed 26 FTAs with 33 countries and regions since its first agreement with ASEAN in 2002. Those partners account for 45% of China's foreign trade and 70% of its inbound foreign investment.

In 2026 the ministry reported:

• Completion of upgrade negotiations with Switzerland, with eventual zero-tariff products covering more than 99% of goods trade value on both sides, and new rules on digital trade, AI and trade and sustainable development.
• Signing of an upgrade protocol with Georgia covering investment, e-commerce, sanitary and phytosanitary measures and technical barriers to trade.
• Framework agreements on economic partnership with 40 African countries and 8 Pacific island countries, plus early harvest arrangements with Congo, Kenya and Seychelles.

In the first three quarters of 2026, China's imports and exports with FTA partners reached 19.55 trillion yuan, up 30% and contributing more than 70% of foreign trade growth. Next steps include bringing the China-ASEAN FTA 3.0 and the China-Peru upgrade protocol into force, advancing negotiations or upgrades with Korea, New Zealand and Central Asian countries, and progress on RCEP expansion and upgrading.

Founder takeaway: if your China entity sources from or sells into FTA partner markets, check whether your products and services can use agreement preferences, and watch for new rules in digital and green areas.

Inbound Consumption and the "China Haul" Trend

Yang Mu, director of market operations and consumption promotion, said the "China Haul" trend on overseas social media reflects growing recognition of shopping in China. She said inbound consumption is broadening beyond traditional specialties such as tea and silk toward technology products, Chinese-style fashion, wellness, beauty and trendy collectibles. Founders in consumer goods, retail and cross-border e-commerce should note the policy interest in converting short-term visitor spending into sustained inbound consumption.

Practical Checklist for Foreign Founders

• Track FTA eligibility: review tariff and rules-of-origin benefits for goods traded with the 33 FTA partners.
• Use investor services: the ministry emphasizes a foreign investment service and support system; keep abreast of local implementation.
• Build compliance for controls: export control, security review and trade remedy rules are explicitly part of the plan.
• Watch new rule areas: digital trade, AI, green development and government procurement are flagged for future rule-making.

Next Step

Foreign founders can contact ChinaMNC on WhatsApp / WeChat at +86 153 1898 8535 for help registering and operating a company in China.

This summary is based on information published by the relevant Chinese government website and is general information, not legal or tax advice.