Catalogue on the Pricing of Items by State Development Planning Commission and Authorities of the State Council

Issued: July 4, 2001
Effective: August 1, 2001
Issuing Authority: State Development Planning Commission ("SDPC"), State Council

Main Contents: This catalogue reflects the Chinese government's further efforts to move toward a market-oriented economy. It specifies the areas where government control still prevails in terms of pricing, but narrowsa down the items priced by the Chinese government into thirteen categories that cover some basic products essential for the growth and development of the nation's economy and the major needs of its people. The items for which government pricing is needed include: central government reserved goods and materials (such as grains, vegetable oil and cotton); government monopolized tobacco, salt, and civil explosive materials; certain chemical fertilizers; certain important medical products and drugs; teaching materials; natural gas; centrally controlled or inter-provincial water supply projects; electric power; military products; major transportation; basic postal services; telecommunications services; and professional services (such as financial settlement and transaction services, construction prospecting and design services, and some intermediary services). According to the SDPC, the government pricing contained in the catalogue is divided into "government guided pricing" and "government fixed pricing." The catalogue does not affect fees charged by the government administrative branches, the price of crude and refined oil, or publicly announced prices of city standard land fee, which are still governed by other regulations currently in effect.