The Ministry of Transport ("MOT") has recently issued the Opinions of the Ministry of Transport and the National Development and Reform Commission on Deepening the Reform of Road Transport Prices (Draft for Comment) (the "Draft for Comment") for public comment by July 25, 2019.
The Draft for Comment is comprised of four parts which are general requirements, main tasks, relevant measures and work requirements. In the part of main tasks, the Draft for Comment calls for efforts to: 1. deepen the market-oriented reform of road passenger transport prices; 2. improve the category-based administration of passenger transport coach stations; 3. optimize the price formation mechanism for cruising taxies; 4. standardize price administration for new business forms and business models emerging in the road transport sector; and 5. improve safeguards for rights and interests of special passengers. As regards the relevant measures, the Draft for Comment clearly states that measures will be taken to: 1. further regulate government's pricing practices; 2. regulate business operators' independent pricing practices; 3. tighten price surveillance and strengthen the development of the credit system; and 4. make progress in improving the industry governance system. According to the Draft for Comment, this policy document is likely to officially take effect from November 1, 2019.