China will step up antitrust enforcement in 2026 to break down local protectionism and market fragmentation, the country's market regulator said on Thursday.

At the 2026 national antitrust work conference held in Xiamen, Fujian province, the State Administration for Market Regulation said this year's priorities include deepening fair competition governance, regulating market order, and addressing cutthroat competition.

The country will also strengthen oversight of government behavior, targeting the misuse of administrative power to restrict competition, and expand international cooperation while refining regulatory mechanisms to improve enforcement efficiency, SAMR said.

The regulator added that in 2025, regulators concluded 22 monopoly cases and reviewed 706 merger filings. The regulator also opened 96 investigations into abuses of administrative power that excluded or restricted competition, aiming to curb local governments' intervention in markets.

chengyu@chinadaily.com.cn