China Clarifies “Safe Harbor” Rules for Vertical Agreements: Key Antitrust Compliance Implications
纵向垄断“安全港”细则即将生效：中国明确转售价格维持及非价格限制豁免标准
Compliance Update | PRC Antitrust 合规提示 | 中国反垄断法
The State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) has issued the revised Provisions on Prohibiting Monopoly Agreements, which will officially come into force on February 1, 2026. This revision primarily clarifies the presumption of exemption criteria (commonly referred to as the “Safe Harbor” rule) applicable to vertical monopoly agreements (i.e., monopoly agreements concluded between business operators and their transaction counterparts). These changes directly bear on the compliance of enterprises’ upstream and downstream transactions.
近日，国家市场监督管理总局颁布了新修订的《禁止垄断协议规定》，该《规定》即将于 2026年2月1日 起正式施行。本次修订主要明确了适用于纵向垄断协议（即：经营者与交易相对人之间达成的垄断协议）的推定豁免标准（俗称“安全港规则”），该修订直接关系着企业上下游交易的合规性。
Key Revisions and Compliance Points | 《规定》主要内容及合规要点
1. Broad Applicability | 广泛的适用范围 The “Safe Harbor” rules apply to all vertical transaction models, including written contracts, oral agreements, and digital transaction forms such as online platforms. “安全港”规则适用于所有纵向交易模式：包括书面合同、口头约定，以及网络平台等数字化交易形式。
2. Classification and Thresholds | 协议分类及准入标准 Vertical monopoly agreements are subdivided into two categories, each subject to distinct “Safe Harbor” criteria: 纵向垄断协议可细分为两类，针对不同类型的协议，《规定》设置了不同的“安全港”标准：
- Vertical Price Monopoly Agreements (Fixed/Resale Price Maintenance): 纵向价格垄断协议（即：固定/限定转售价格协议）： These agreements shall not be prohibited if the following conditions are met: 满足以下条件的协议不予禁止： a) Each party to the agreement holds a market share of less than 5% in the relevant market for each fiscal year during the term of the agreement; and 协议方各自在协议期间在相关市场每一年度的市场份额均低于 5%；且 b) The annual turnover of the goods covered by the agreement is less than RMB 100 million for each fiscal year during the term. 协议所涉及商品在协议期间每一年度的营业额均低于 1亿元。
- Vertical Non-Price Monopoly Agreements: 纵向非价格垄断协议（如：区域、客户、渠道限制等）： These agreements shall not be prohibited if it can be proven that each party to the agreement holds a market share of less than 15% in the relevant market for each fiscal year during the term of the agreement (no turnover threshold applicable). 若可以证明协议方各自在协议期间相关市场每一年度的市场份额均低于 15% 的（无营业额条件），亦不予禁止。
3. Residual Risk Caveat | 违法风险提示 Notwithstanding the above, if there is evidence proving that an agreement, despite meeting the aforementioned criteria, has the effect of eliminating or restricting competition, such agreement shall still be at risk of being deemed illegal. 尽管如此，若有证据证明协议虽然符合上述标准，但具有排除、限制竞争效果的，则仍具有违法风险。
Practical Compliance Recommendations | 实务合规建议
To preempt potential risks, enterprises are advised to conduct a comprehensive compliance self-inspection: 为提前规避风险，建议企业尽快开展合规自查：
- Audit Agreements: Comprehensively sort out upstream and downstream cooperation agreements. 全面梳理： 全面梳理上下游合作协议。
- Calculate Market Data: Separately calculate market shares and/or product turnover for the company and its transaction counterparts (upstream and downstream partners). 分类核算： 分类核算企业与交易相对人（上下游合作伙伴）在相关市场的市场份额和/或所涉产品的营业额情况。
- Maintain Evidence: For agreements meeting the “Safe Harbor” criteria, properly retain the basis for calculation, such as financial statements, industry reports, and sales ledgers. 妥善留存： 对于符合“安全港”标准的，妥善保存份额/营业额计算依据（如财务报表、行业报告、销售台账等）。
- Assess and Revise: For those that fail to meet the criteria, timely assess competition risks and, if necessary, make appropriate revisions to the agreements. 评估修订： 对于不符合“安全港”标准的，及时评估竞争风险，必要时予以适当修订。
Should you have any questions regarding the definition of relevant markets, calculation standards, or compliance evaluation of contractual clauses, please feel free to contact us. 若对相关市场界定、市场份额/营业额计算标准、条款合规性判断等相关事宜存在疑问的，欢迎随时与我们联系。