Disappointing bilateral negotiations between the United States and China have added few new successes to lackluster investment reforms, despite the multiple announcements, promises, and regulatory changes by the Chinese government over the past six months.

The recently released, and newly effective Administrative Regulations for Online Publishing Service explicitly restricts foreign investors from providing online publishing services, sets licensing and approval requirements for the types of cooperative projects in which domestic and foreign entities can engage, and outlines strict rules on technical equipment and data localization.