From：Internet Info Agency 2026-08-24 17:31:46
On August 21, China's State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) released six typical cases illustrating its efforts to address "involutionary" competition within industries. Among these, merger and joint venture projects in the lithium battery, energy storage, and new energy materials sectors were all unconditionally approved. Starting in 2026, SAMR will designate the lithium battery industry as a key sector for regulatory oversight, drawing clear competitive boundaries through precise review processes, strictly controlling low-end and inefficient capacity expansion projects, and simultaneously streamlining approval procedures for projects that revitalize existing resources. Recent cases—such as Jingjiang Industrial’s acquisition of equity in East Group and Cangzhou Mingzhu’s establishment of a wet-process separator joint venture project in Guangzhou—already reflect this regulatory direction. The delegation of review authority and the swift resolution of the Cangzhou Mingzhu case have helped unleash market vitality. These regulatory measures aim to distinguish between blind, inefficient overexpansion and beneficial integration through resource consolidation, steering the industry away from extensive growth toward high-quality development.
