China Launches National Security Investigation into Imported Office Equipment with Foreign Software

On August 5, 2026, the Ministry of Commerce issued an announcement, pursuant to Articles 41 and 42 of the Foreign Trade Law of the People's Republic of China, deciding to initiate a foreign trade national security investigation into imported printing and copying office equipment equipped with foreign system software. This is China's first foreign trade national security investigation. The subject of the investigation is imported office equipment with printing and copying functions that contains foreign system software, where foreign system software refers to driver software and embedded software developed, tested, or maintained by foreign individuals or entities.

According to the Ministry of Commerce Announcement No. 33 of 2026, the investigation aims to assess the impact of the imported equipment on national security interests in foreign trade. The investigation matters include the import situation of the subject goods; the impact of imported products, technologies, or services on national security interests; domestic demand in the relevant field and reliance on foreign goods, technologies, or services; the current development of domestic related industries and their impact from imports; the capacity and level of domestic industries to meet domestic demand and national security interests; the impact of relevant foreign government policies and measures on China's national security interests; and other matters affecting national security interests in foreign trade.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce stated that according to Article 41 of the Foreign Trade Law, to maintain foreign trade order, the Ministry of Commerce may, on its own or together with other relevant departments of the State Council, investigate matters concerning national security interests in foreign trade.

According to Article 42 of the Foreign Trade Law, the investigation may be conducted through written questionnaires, hearings, on-site investigations, and commissioned investigations. The Ministry of Commerce will produce an investigation report or issue a ruling based on the findings and publish an announcement. The investigation should conclude within 12 months from the date of the announcement of the decision to initiate the case, with possible extension under special circumstances. Interested parties may submit written comments on issues related to the initiation and investigation procedures to the Bureau of Trade Remedy and Investigation of the Ministry of Commerce within 30 days from the date of the announcement.

During the investigation, interested parties may access public case information via the sub-website of the Bureau of Trade Remedy and Investigation on the Ministry of Commerce website, or visit the Ministry of Commerce's public information reading room for case information to search, read, transcribe, and copy. Interested parties submitting comments, responses, and other documents should submit electronic versions through the "Trade Remedy Investigation Information Platform" and also provide written versions as required by the Ministry. If an interested party believes that disclosure of the information provided would cause serious adverse effects, it may apply to the Ministry for confidential treatment, stating the reasons. If the Ministry agrees, the party must also provide a non-confidential summary of the confidential information. If confidentiality is not requested, the Ministry will treat the information as public.

The Ministry of Commerce spokesperson said that the investigating authority will conduct the investigation in accordance with the law, fully protect the rights and interests of all interested parties, and make an objective and fair ruling based on the investigation findings.