Ministry of Commerce responds to review of Meta's acquisition of Manus: companies engaging in foreign investment and other activities must comply with Chinese laws and regulations
The Zhitong Finance App learned that on January 8, the Ministry of Commerce held a regular press conference. Regarding the Ministry of Commerce's review of Meta's transaction to acquire the artificial intelligence platform Manus for 2 billion US dollars, Ministry of Commerce spokesman He Yadong said that the Chinese government has always supported enterprises to carry out mutually beneficial and win-win multinational operations and international technical cooperation according to law and regulations. What needs to be clarified is that enterprises that engage in activities such as foreign investment, technology export, data export, and cross-border mergers and acquisitions must comply with Chinese laws and regulations and comply with legal procedures. The Ministry of Commerce will work with relevant departments to evaluate and investigate the compatibility of this acquisition with relevant laws and regulations relating to export control, technology import and export, foreign investment, etc.
He Yadong said that during his current visit to China and South Korea, the leaders of the two countries reached a series of important agreements on deepening practical cooperation in the economic and trade fields. Under the joint witness of President Xi Jinping and President Lee Jae-ming, China's Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Industry and Trade signed the “Memorandum of Understanding on Establishing a Dialogue Mechanism for China-Korea Economic and Trade Cooperation” and the “Memorandum of Understanding on Deepening Sino-Korean Industrial Park Cooperation”. The two sides will actively play the role of economic and trade cooperation between China and South Korea, expand the demonstration and driving effects of Sino-Korean industrial park cooperation.
In the next step, the Ministry of Commerce is willing to work with South Korea to jointly implement the important consensus of the leaders of the two countries, strengthen the integration of economic and trade cooperation plans and policy coordination, maintain stable and smooth production and supply chains, support mutual investment between enterprises of the two countries, accelerate the second phase of negotiations on the China-Korea FTA to achieve substantial results as soon as possible, explore the potential for cooperation in emerging fields such as high-end manufacturing, artificial intelligence, green industry, and silver hair economy, encourage the two countries to carry out multi-level and multi-form economic and trade exchanges, and continuously expand the cake of common interests between China and South Korea.
The original text is as follows:
Ministry of Commerce holds regular press conference (January 8, 2026)
He Yadong:
Dear journalists,
Good afternoon everyone. Welcome to the Ministry of Commerce's regular press conference. I don't have any information I need to share with you today. Next, I would like to answer the questions raised by my journalist friends.
Please ask questions below.
Pengpai News Reporter:
In recent years, there have been more and more business demands from various regions to carry out bonded maintenance. We have also seen that the Ministry of Commerce, together with relevant departments, recently issued the fourth batch of comprehensive bonded zone maintenance product catalogues. Can you introduce the relevant situation? How will the next step be to further promote the sustainable and healthy development of bonded maintenance?
He Yadong:
In recent years, the international industrial division of labor has been deeply adjusted, and the export scale of China's high-value-added products has continued to rise, and demand for maintenance of these products is becoming more and more intense. In this context, bonded maintenance emerged as a new form of processing trade.
As you just mentioned, recently, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, and the General Administration of Customs issued a “Notice”, which achieved a policy breakthrough in the bonded maintenance business model, allowing enterprises within the Comprehensive Free Trade Zone to carry out bonded maintenance business of self-produced and exported mechanical and electrical products without being restricted by the Comprehensive Insurance Zone maintenance product catalogue and the catalogue of used mechanical and electrical products prohibited from being imported. This measure has greatly solved the after-sales maintenance needs of domestic manufacturers selling products overseas, and helps stabilize and improve the level of the enterprise's production supply chain.
The fourth batch of comprehensive insurance zone maintenance product catalogues announced in the “Notice” added 179 items such as communication base stations and automobile power batteries. Up to now, the comprehensive insurance zone can carry out bonded repairs for 276 products, driving nearly 240 projects to be implemented within the region.
In the next step, the Ministry of Commerce, together with relevant departments, will continue to promote the healthy development of bonded maintenance standards at various levels and in multiple fields, promote the expansion of the comprehensive insurance zone maintenance product catalogue, and speed up replication and promotion in other regions such as the Pilot Free Trade Zone to further help new forms of foreign trade and high-quality trade development. Thank you.
CCTV Chinese International Reporter:
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung finished his visit to China this week. What specific economic and trade cooperation results have been reached in the economic and trade fields? What are the new features of the current economic and trade cooperation between China and South Korea?
He Yadong:
This visit was the first time that the heads of state of China and South Korea met and exchanged visits after a lapse of two months. It was also the first time that President Lee Jae-myung visited China since taking office. The heads of state of the two countries provided strategic guidance for deepening the strategic partnership between China and South Korea, pointing out the direction for the next step in promoting the development of economic and trade relations between the two countries. The economic and trade relations between China and South Korea are close, the production and supply chains between the two sides are deeply intertwined, and “new business formats” and “new models” of cooperation continue to emerge, gradually becoming a “new highlight” and “new engine” for economic and trade cooperation between the two countries. China has maintained Korea's largest trading partner for many years, and South Korea is China's second-largest trading partner. According to Chinese statistics, the trade volume between China and South Korea reached 298.9 billion US dollars from January to November 2025. By the end of November last year, South Korea's actual investment in China had accumulated 104.65 billion US dollars. The role of economic and trade cooperation between China and South Korea as a “ballast stone” and “propeller” in bilateral relations continues to be highlighted.
During this visit, the leaders of the two countries reached a series of important agreements on deepening practical cooperation in the economic and trade fields. Under the joint witness of President Xi Jinping and President Lee Jae-ming, China's Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Industry and Trade signed the “Memorandum of Understanding on Establishing a Dialogue Mechanism for China-Korea Economic and Trade Cooperation” and the “Memorandum of Understanding on Deepening Sino-Korean Industrial Park Cooperation”. The two sides will actively play the role of economic and trade cooperation between China and South Korea, expand the demonstration and driving effects of Sino-Korean industrial park cooperation.
In the next step, the Ministry of Commerce is willing to work with South Korea to jointly implement the important consensus of the leaders of the two countries, strengthen the integration of economic and trade cooperation plans and policy coordination, maintain stable and smooth production and supply chains, support mutual investment between enterprises of the two countries, accelerate the second phase of negotiations on the China-Korea FTA to achieve substantial results as soon as possible, explore the potential for cooperation in emerging fields such as high-end manufacturing, artificial intelligence, green industry, and silver hair economy, encourage the two countries to carry out multi-level and multi-form economic and trade exchanges, and continuously expand the cake of common interests between China and South Korea. Thank you.
Hong Kong Economic Report Reporter:
The closure of the Hainan Free Trade Port has opened up a new era of high-level opening-up. How do you think Hong Kong should deal with potential competition, seize opportunities for cooperation, and continue to write the new value of “super contacts”?
He Yadong:
Hong Kong is an international financial, shipping and trade center, and has the unique advantage of supporting the motherland and connecting the world. The country is unswervingly expanding a high level of opening-up to the outside world. The Hainan Free Trade Port is a landmark step for the country to promote the construction of a new open economic system. For Hong Kong, “one country, two systems” is the greatest advantage, and the country's reform and opening up is the biggest stage. The more open up the motherland is, the wider the room for development in Hong Kong. We will support Hong Kong's integration and service to the overall development of the country, complement and develop collaboratively with Hainan, and play a better role in the country's high-level opening-up to the outside world. Thank you.
Phoenix TV Reporter:
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was forcibly controlled by the US side a few days ago. What impact has this had on the CPC's economy and trade now? In the context of the US pursuing the New Monroe Doctrine and seeking dominance in the Western Hemisphere, how can China maintain its economic and trade interests in Latin America?
He Yadong:
The hegemonic act of the US side seriously violates international law, infringes on Venezuela's sovereignty, and threatens peace and security in Latin America. China resolutely opposes this. Economic and trade cooperation between China and the Chinese Commission is cooperation between sovereign countries. It is protected by international law and the laws of the two countries, and no other country has the right to interfere. No matter how the political situation changes, China's will to continue deepening economic and trade relations between the two countries will not change.
In carrying out economic and trade cooperation with Latin American countries, China has always upheld the principles of equal treatment, mutual benefit and win-win situation, and has never sought spheres of influence, nor targeted any party. Economic complementarity is a solid foundation for Sino-Latin American economic and trade cooperation, and openness, inclusiveness, and win-win cooperation are distinctive features. China will continue to work with Latin American countries to respond to international changes through solidarity and cooperation, carry out economic and trade cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, and achieve common development. Thank you.
Japan Asahi News Reporter:
Earlier, the Ministry of Commerce announced the strengthening of export controls on dual-use items to Japan. I have two questions: the first one is about the scope of controlled items. The dual-use items export control list includes a wide range of items, from rare earths to chemical substances. Is all of the above subject to regulation? In particular, are rare earths also within the scope of regulation? The second question concerns users and uses prohibited for export. The announcement mentioned “prohibiting all exports for other end-user uses that help enhance Japan's military strength.” Excuse me, which organizations or businesses are included?
He Yadong:
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's erroneous remarks concerning Taiwan infringed on China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, blatantly interfered in China's internal affairs, and threatened China with force. Since Prime Minister Takaichi came to power, he has promoted the revision of the “Three Security Documents,” and his close associates have made pro-nuclear remarks. This is an attempt to challenge the bottom line of the international community, reveal the consistent erroneous claims of Prime Minister Takaichi and Japan's right-wing forces and continue to push for “re-militarization” ambitions to challenge the post-war international order, which will inevitably damage regional peace and stability and endanger world peace and security.
As a responsible power, China has always actively fulfilled its international nonproliferation obligations. All dual-use items are prohibited from being exported to Japanese military users, military use, and all other end user uses involved in enhancing Japan's military strength according to law and regulations. The purpose is to stop “remilitarization” and attempts to possess nuclear weapons, which is completely legitimate, reasonable, and legal.
China has always been committed to maintaining the stability and security of the global production and supply chain, and those involving civil uses will not be affected by this. There is absolutely no need to worry about the parties involved in carrying out normal civilian trade transactions. Thank you.
South China Morning Post reporter:
According to media reports, China's Ministry of Commerce is reviewing Meta's $2 billion acquisition of artificial intelligence platform Manus to determine whether technology export controls have been violated. What is the Ministry of Commerce's response?
He Yadong:
We have taken note of the relevant media reports. The Chinese Government has always supported enterprises to carry out mutually beneficial and win-win multinational operations and international technical cooperation in accordance with the law and regulations. What needs to be clarified is that enterprises that engage in activities such as foreign investment, technology export, data export, and cross-border mergers and acquisitions must comply with Chinese laws and regulations and comply with legal procedures. The Ministry of Commerce will work with relevant departments to evaluate and investigate the compatibility of this acquisition with relevant laws and regulations relating to export control, technology import and export, foreign investment, etc. Thank you.
This article was edited from the official website of the Ministry of Commerce; Zhitong Finance Editor: Chen Xiaoyi.