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On 10 June 2013, the Catalogue for the Guidance of the Advantageous Industries in Central and Western Regions for Foreign Investment (2013 Amendment)（hereinafter "the Verification Catalogue"）came into force, which was the third amendment since its first promulgation in 2000. (…) The new Catalogue encourages foreign investors to invest in labor-intensive industries complying with environmental protection requirements in central and western China, and to promote the initiatives of saving and comprehensive utilization of resources and improve the development of the service sector.

Import licensing, restrictions and prohibitions are maintained on grounds of state security; public morality; human, animal and plant health; environmental protection; balance of payment reasons; and to comply with international commitments. (…)

Under the Foreign Trade Law , China maintains import prohibitions on the following grounds: state security; public morality; human, animal and plant health; environmental protection; balance-of-payments reasons; and to comply with international commitments (Article 16 of the Foreign Trade Law). Prohibited products are listed in the "Catalogue of Commodities Subject to Import Prohibitions", issued by MOFCOM and other relevant ministries and bodies, such as the GACC and AQSIQ (Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine). The last notification regarding import prohibitions dates from 2009, when imports of products classified under 543 tariff lines at the HS 2007 8-digit level were prohibited; no further information has been provided to the Secretariat since then.(…)

(…) These Catalogues include 394 tariff lines (in HS 2007 at the 8-digit level) that are subject to import prohibition under processing trade. These products include: mineral products; organic chemicals (e.g. anthracite, bituminous coking coal and lignite); fertilizers (e.g. urea, animal and vegetable fertilizers other than guano); new hides and skins; iron and steel; machines and electric equipment; waste and used scrap metal; and used mechanical and electrical products. According to the authorities, imports of these products are prohibited under processing trade for reasons of national security, environmental protection, or human, animal and plant health and safety concerns.

(…) FDI has been encouraged in areas such as high-end manufacturing, high-tech industries, service industries, new energy and energy-saving environmental protection industries. (…)

(…) FDI has been encouraged in areas such as high-end manufacturing, high-tech industries, service industries, new energy and energy-saving environmental protection industries. The authorities have noted that China actively guides foreign investment in the central and western regions.

Foreign investment projects are classified in four categories: encouraged, permitted, restricted, and prohibited. In general, projects in the encouraged category (those that the authorities are interested in promoting) are those that use improved technology and are less polluting, while restricted projects are those deemed to employ outdated technologies, over exploit scarce natural resources, or harm the environment. The prohibited category includes projects that are considered as polluting the environment, destroying natural resources or damaging social and public interests. Projects that do not fall into these three groups are "permitted".

Table 2.2 Summary of the major changes in the Investment Catalogue, 2007 and 2011
2011 Catalogue: Encouraged
2007 Catalogue: Permitted
Industry/Activity: Textile: new products and technologies in textile; green/environmental protective and special clothing production.

Table 2.2 Summary of the major changes in the Investment Catalogue, 2007 and 2011
2011 Catalogue: Encouraged
2007 Catalogue: Permitted
Industry/Activity: Energy: manufacturing of gear transmission used for wind power; nuclear power and high-speed trains; variable paddle gear transmission systems used for vessels; and large-scale and heavy load gear cases.

Table 2.2 Summary of the major changes in the Investment Catalogue, 2007 and 2011
2011 Catalogue: Encouraged
2007 Catalogue: Permitted
Industry/Activity: Services: Electric vehicle charging stations; venture capital businesses, intellectual property services; household services; marine oil pollution clean-up services; vocational training services; water plant construction and operation.