3. Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM)
| Minister: | Chen Deming | |
| Vice Ministers: | Yu Guangzhou Ma Xiuhong Gao Hucheng Jiang Zengwei Yi Xiaozhun Chen Jian Fu Ziying |
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| Address: | 2 Dong Chang An Jie, Beijing, PRC 100731 | |
| Telephone: | 86-10-6512-1919; 86-10-6528-4671 | |
| Facsimile: | 86-10-6559-9340 | |
| Website: | www.mofcom.gov.cn | |
| Departments: | General Office; Human Resources; Policy Research; General Economic Affairs; Treaty and Law; Finance; Asian Affairs; West Asian and African Affairs; European Affairs; American and Oceanic Affairs; Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macao Affairs, International Economic and Trade Relations; WTO Affairs; Foreign Trade; Trade in Services; Mechanical, Electronic, and High-Technology Industry; Market System Development; Commercial Reform and Development; Market Operation Regulation; Foreign Investment Administration; Foreign Aid; Foreign Economic Cooperation; Bureau of Fair Trade for Import and Export; Bureau of Industry Injury Investigation; Information Technology; Foreign Affairs; CCP Committee; Discipline Committee; Discipline Supervision & Investigation Group; Bureau of Discipline Supervision; National Office of Rectification and Standardization of Market Economic Order; Office of National Intellectual Property Inspection Working Group; Bureau of Retired Officials | |
MOFCOM was established in March 2003, consolidating responsibility for foreign and domestic trade in one body. The new office combines the former Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (MOFTEC) with parts of the former State Economic and Trade Commission (SETC) and former State Development Planning Commission (SDPC) in a move intended to streamline bureaucratic approval requirements. Nominally, MOFCOM regulates both domestic and foreign investors in China, though MOFTEC's original foreign investment offices and the local commissions of foreign trade and economic cooperation (COFTECs) continue to operate largely as before. The new Ministry of Commerce is housed chiefly in the former MOFTEC offices.
MOFCOM is similar to the US Department of Commerce in that it regulates both domestic and foreign trade, works to attract foreign investment, and helps Chinese companies abroad. It also incorporates trade policy and administrative functions, particularly regarding WTO implementation. MOFCOM is also tasked with competition policy including supervising anti counterfeiting efforts as well as efforts to break down regional protectionism within China.
In terms of organization, MOFCOM is composed of about two dozen departments, most of which were transferred intact from MOFTEC. MOFCOM absorbed four offices from SETC--the Trade and Market Bureau, Foreign Economic Coordination Department, Industrial Damage Investigation Bureau, and National Rectification and Standardization of Market Order Leading Group Office. From the former SDPC, the Economic and Trade Circulation Department and Utilization of Funds Abroad Department were incorporated into MOFCOM. And two new offices were created within MOFCOM--the Market Circulation Coordination Department and the Commercial Reform Development Office. MOFCOM personnel total roughly 700 people.
Return to PART V: State Council 27 Ministries and Commissions