China widens antitrust warning from Trip.com case to online hotel-booking sector
By MLex Staff ( September 16, 2026, 07:36 GMT | Insight) -- Chinese market and tourism regulators have extended regulatory guidance arising from the Trip.com antitrust case across the online hotel-booking sector, calling on major platforms to conduct self-reviews and guard against competition risks involving exclusive arrangements and “lowest price across the internet” requirements. The guidance doesn't constitute a finding of antitrust violations, but state-media commentary said similar practices could cause substantial harm to competition even when used by platforms without dominant market positions.Chinese market and tourism regulators have extended regulatory guidance arising from the Trip.com antitrust case across the online hotel-booking sector, calling on major platforms to conduct self-reviews and guard against competition risks involving exclusive arrangements and “lowest price across the internet” requirements....
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