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China's New Tech-Driven Commerce Policy: What Foreign Founders Need to Know

China's State Council Information Office held a press conference on October 19, 2026, detailing the new "Opinions on Accelerating Tech-Driven Commerce." The policy, led by the Ministry of Commerce with support from MIIT and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, outlines 18 measures to integrate technology across the commerce chain. For foreign founders, this signals opportunities in smart retail, AI-enabled products, and digital services, with implications for company registration and operations.

China's Tech-Driven Commerce Push: Opportunities for Foreign Founders

On October 19, 2026, China's State Council Information Office held a press conference to introduce the "Opinions on Accelerating Tech-Driven Commerce" (关于加快推进科技兴商的意见), a new policy document issued by the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) in collaboration with other departments. The briefing featured Assistant Minister of Commerce Yuan Xiaoming, Director Wei Wei of the Department of Science and Technology at the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), Director Meng Yue of MOFCOM's Department of Market System Development, and Zhou Hanping, a senior official from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The policy aims to leverage technology to transform commerce and boost domestic demand. For foreign founders, understanding this policy can reveal new business opportunities and regulatory trends.

Policy Overview: 18 Measures Across Four Areas

The "Opinions" is the first comprehensive policy document themed on "tech-driven commerce." It outlines 18 specific measures across four key areas: upgrading consumer goods through technology, expanding service consumption, streamlining commerce logistics, and shaping future commercial scenarios. The policy also addresses the development environment in six aspects: standards, infrastructure, safety regulation, R&D transformation, talent cultivation, and fiscal and financial support.

Assistant Minister Yuan emphasized that the policy is characterized by three features: "new," "comprehensive," and "practical." It focuses on integrating technological innovation throughout the commerce chain to drive high-quality development. The policy responds to consumer trends such as increased demand for quality and experience. For instance, according to MOFCOM's big data, sales of smart glasses on key platforms increased by 1.1 times year-on-year in the first three quarters of 2026, illustrating the growing consumer interest in tech-enabled products.

AI and Manufacturing: A Key Driver for Product Upgrades

MIIT Director Wei Wei provided details on the "AI + Manufacturing" initiative, launched in July 2025 by MIIT and seven other departments including MOFCOM. The initiative aims to deeply integrate artificial intelligence into the manufacturing sector. According to Wei, China's core AI industry exceeded 1.2 trillion yuan in 2025. The initiative has made progress in several areas:

• Application expansion: Over 1,000 high-value application scenarios have been identified across 20 industries such as steel, automotive, and pharmaceuticals, with 285 typical cases released and over 5,000 enterprises participating in supply-demand matchmaking. The adoption rate of AI technology among large-scale manufacturing enterprises exceeds 30%.
• Industrial foundation: More than 500 high-quality datasets and over 100 industrial AI agents have been developed, along with numerous national and international standards.
• AI terminal products: National standards for AI terminal intelligence grading have been established for seven product categories, including smartphones, computers, TVs, and glasses. Over 100 products meet the auxiliary-level capability requirements. In the first half of 2026, shipments of various intelligent terminals exceeded 100 million units.
• Enterprise and talent cultivation: As of the end of June 2026, there were over 6,600 AI enterprises in China. A 60 billion yuan national AI industry investment fund has been established.

Next steps include strengthening technology supply through mechanisms like "open competition" for key technologies, accelerating product upgrades (e.g., AI computers, smartphones, brain-computer interfaces, embodied intelligence), and facilitating production-sales linkages to bring more smart products to market.

Service Consumption: Digital Upgrades in Education, Healthcare, and More

The policy also addresses the growing demand for quality services in education, sports, elderly care, and childcare. While the source text is truncated, it indicates that the "Opinions" includes measures to use technology to improve service consumption. This may involve digital transformation of basic services like housekeeping and dining, as well as expanding upgraded services such as smart education, smart tourism, and smart sports. Foreign founders in these sectors should monitor further details.

Implications for Foreign Founders

For foreign entrepreneurs looking to register or operate a company in China, this policy signals several opportunities:

• Smart retail and e-commerce: The push for quality e-commerce and digital supply chains may create demand for tech solutions and imported smart products.
• AI and manufacturing: Foreign companies with AI technologies for manufacturing could find partners or set up operations in China, leveraging the government's support for AI application scenarios.
• Service sector: Digital upgrades in education, healthcare, and tourism may open doors for foreign service providers with innovative tech solutions.
• Standards and compliance: The emphasis on standards and safety regulation means foreign businesses should stay informed about evolving requirements.

When establishing a company in China, foreign founders should consider the policy's focus on technology integration and align their business plans accordingly. Working with local partners and understanding government priorities can be beneficial.

Conclusion

China's "Tech-Driven Commerce" policy underscores the government's commitment to using technology to stimulate consumption and modernize commerce. Foreign founders can explore opportunities in smart products, AI applications, and digital services, while staying attuned to regulatory developments. As the policy is implemented, further details and local initiatives are expected.

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

Call to Action: For assistance with registering and operating a company in China, foreign founders can contact ChinaMNC on WhatsApp / WeChat at +86 153 1898 8535.