Interpretation of the Action Plan for Standardization of Trade in Services (2026-2030) by the Head of the Service Trade Department of the Ministry of Commerce
Recently, the Ministry of Commerce and the State Administration for Market Regulation jointly issued the "Action Plan for Standardization of Trade in Services (2026-2030)" (hereinafter referred to as the "Action Plan"). The head of the Service Trade Department of the Ministry of Commerce interpreted the Action Plan.
1、 Background of the Implementation of the Action Plan
Standards play a crucial role in technological innovation, industrial upgrading, and international trade. Due to its intangibility, heterogeneity, and regulatory complexity, services require standards to play a supportive and leading role in cross-border transactions.
The Party Central Committee and the State Council attach great importance to trade in services and standardization work. In 2021, the National Standardization Development Outline proposed for the first time to study and formulate service trade standards. The report of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China requires steadily expanding institutional openness in terms of rules, regulations, management, standards, and other aspects. The Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China once again clarified the need to enhance the standardization level of service trade. In 2024, the General Office of the State Council issued the "Opinions on Promoting the High quality Development of Service Trade through High level Opening up", which specifically deployed to enhance the standardization level of service trade.
In order to implement the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, better play the fundamental, leading, and exemplary role of standards in industry development, and accelerate the standardization construction of service trade, the Ministry of Commerce and the State Administration for Market Regulation, together with relevant departments, have studied and drafted the "Action Plan" and recently issued it for implementation.
2、 Main content of the Action Plan
The Action Plan specifies the overall requirements, work system construction, key areas for strengthening standard supply, internationalization of standards, consolidation of development foundation, and organizational implementation guarantee for standardization work in service trade.
（1） Overall requirements. It mainly clarifies the overall requirements and development goals for the standardization of service trade in the next five years.
（2） Accelerate the construction of a standard work system. The main tasks of the construction of the work system have been clarified, which are to build a standard system suitable for the development of China's service trade through market driven, government guided, comprehensive participation, and open sharing, optimize the structure of standard supply, encourage various entities to actively participate in the revision of standards, vigorously promote standard innovation that is compatible with new technologies, new services, and new application scenarios, and strengthen the promotion, implementation evaluation, and experience dissemination of standards.
（3） Strengthen the supply of standards in key areas. Closely integrating the key areas for innovative development of service trade deployed in the "Opinions of the General Office of the State Council on Promoting High quality Development of Service Trade through High level Opening up", propose the key areas for standard revision in relevant fields in the next five years.
（4） Promote the internationalization of standards. Propose a work path to promote the internationalization of service trade standards from the aspects of deepening international exchanges and cooperation, actively participating in the formulation of international standards and the construction of international organizations.
（5） Consolidate the foundation for standardized development. Propose work measures from the aspects of strengthening basic research, enhancing support for standardization technology institutions, strengthening talent team construction, and creating a pilot platform for standardization work.
（6） Organize and implement. Clarify the organizational leadership, working mechanism, and responsibilities of relevant departments and localities in promoting standardization of service trade.
Next, the Ministry of Commerce and the State Administration for Market Regulation will work together with relevant industry regulatory departments and local authorities to promote, interpret, and implement the Action Plan, timely summarize and promote experience and cases, promote the construction of the service trade standard system, enhance the standardization level of service trade, and make greater contributions to the high-quality development of service trade and institutional opening in the service field.