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China's SAMR expands regional merger-review powers to speed approvals

By Yonnex Li ( March 20, 2026, 06:07 GMT | Insight) -- China's antitrust regulator is entrusting provincial regulators with authority to handle cases beyond simple mergers for the first time, as Beijing seeks to speed up approvals while maintaining oversight of potentially problematic deals. The State Administration for Market Regulation will let Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, Chongqing and Shaanxi review non-simple merger cases starting Aug. 1, while adding Liaoning, Zhejiang and Sichuan to the offices authorized to handle simple cases.China's antitrust regulator is entrusting provincial regulators with authority to handle cases beyond simple mergers for the first time, as Beijing seeks to speed up approvals while maintaining oversight of potentially problematic deals. ...

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