Efforts urged to combat illegal charges

China has pledged to carry out special rectification actions targeting illegal charges on enterprises in the fields of transportation, logistics, water, electricity, gas, heating, finance, as well as industry associations, chambers of commerce and intermediaries.

Yang Yinkai, deputy general-secretary of the National Development and Reform Commission, said the government upholds "zero tolerance" toward charges that violate laws and regulations, and vows to effectively reduce unreasonable burdens on all types of market entities.

Yang said many market entities especially micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and individually owned businesses face mounting difficulties in production and operation since the second quarter of this year, given the complex international environment and resurgent domestic COVID-19 cases.

The problem of arbitrary levy of charges must be severely cracked down so as to better implement the country's measures on tax and fee reductions, lower enterprises' operational costs, constantly optimize the business environment and bolster the sustainable and healthy development of related industries, Yang added.

Yuan Xilu, director of the bureau of price supervision and anti-unfair competition at the State Administration for Market Regulation, said inspections and rectifications aimed at illegal charges on enterprises should be carried out and more efforts are needed to strengthen cross-department supervision and cooperation.