On January 12, 2017, the State Council issued the Circular concerning Measures on Expanding the Opening Up and the Active Utilization of Foreign Investment (the Circular). The Circular sets out the government’s policies and outlines specific measures for reducing existing market access restrictions for foreign investment in a wide range of industry sectors, creating a more level playing field for foreign investors and foreign investment enterprises (FIEs), and attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) into China.