Deeper Cooperation Between CNIPA and Customs Set to Strengthen Enforcement

WISECODE Take

Many exporters mistakenly believe products are safe once they leave the factory, but border seizures often occur in blind spots where administrative agencies lack coordinated information. According to a report on October 16, 2026, the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) and the General Administration of Customs are establishing a coordinated protection framework aimed at closing enforcement gaps and strengthening border anti-infringement measures. This joint effort will shorten the response time from status updates of patents and trademarks to customs border interceptions. For businesses manufacturing in China or engaged in cross-border e-commerce, customs cannot proactively seize infringing exports if IP rights are not registered with customs. Zhidian offers customs trademark recordation and cross-border anti-counterfeiting monitoring services to help enterprises build border defense mechanisms. For purely domestic sellers with no import/export operations, this policy update does not affect business operations. To respond to stricter border enforcement, businesses should take two steps: First, verify whether trademark and patent rights registered in China have completed IP customs protection recordation with the General Administration of Customs; second, establish an authorized manufacturer whitelist for customs authorities to avoid wrongful detention of legitimate OEM shipments. The effectiveness of border protection depends on the completeness of pre-filing recordations rather than post-incident administrative disputes.