China Customs Intercepts Over 36 Million Infringing Goods in H1 2026

China's General Administration of Customs reported that border authorities detained approximately 36.09 million suspected intellectual property infringing items across 13,000 batches in the first half of 2026. During the same period, customs officials approved 15,000 intellectual property protection filings and handled 165 comprehensive customs guarantee applications. The enforcement push forms part of the ongoing "Longteng 2026" campaign alongside broader technological upgrades aimed at strengthening border supervision and cross-border commercial compliance.

Border enforcement metrics serve as a primary indicator of China's regulatory posture toward cross-border trade governance and commercial rights protection. Tracking these figures helps domestic and multinational brand owners evaluate border interdiction efficiency and systemic protection for registered trademarks, patents, and copyrights in supply chain hubs.

Chinese customs authorities intercepted 36.09 million suspected intellectual property rights (IPR) infringing items across roughly 13,000 batches during the first half of 2026, according to official data released by the General Administration of Customs. In its mid-year status report on IPR protection, the customs administration confirmed that it approved 15,000 intellectual property customs protection filings in the six-month period. Additionally, officials handled 165 applications for comprehensive IPR customs guarantees, an administrative mechanism designed to facilitate enforcement procedures and reduce procedural costs for legitimate rights holders. The enforcement efforts were conducted under the framework of "Longteng 2026," a dedicated nationwide campaign targeting IPR violations across key export and import categories. According to the administration, the operation emphasizes targeted interventions in sectors with high risks of counterfeiting, applying technology-driven monitoring and multi-agency coordination to improve inspection accuracy. These enforcement activities align with broader institutional efforts to advance the "Smart Customs" framework. Under this modernization drive, customs bureaus are deploying digital tracking, automated screening systems, and cross-jurisdictional data sharing to intercept illicit shipments without disrupting standard cargo processing times. Customs recordal filings represent a cornerstone of China's border IP protection regime, enabling port inspectors to initiate ex-officio seizures when declared goods fail to match authorized supply chain parameters. The continued volume of applications underscores ongoing participation by both domestic and foreign commercial enterprises in leveraging administrative customs mechanisms to safeguard proprietary brand assets.