The law, approved Friday, will prohibit government agencies from forcing foreign companies to hand over their tech secrets in exchange for market access. It will come into effect next year. (Agence France-Presse)

Talking point: Requiring foreign companies to hand over proprietary technology has been a major point of contention in trade negotiations between the U.S. and China. The bill may help resolve the trade war, a months-long affair that’s seen the two countries impose more than US$360 billion in tariffs in two-way trade. China’s National People’s Congress voted in favour of the law less than three months after its first draft was debated, an uncommonly quick turnaround for the assembly. U.S. business groups welcomed the effort, but expressed concern about vague language in the legislation that could still place foreign firms at a disadvantage in China. Under the new law, local governments can still seize investments that they believe “harm public interest,” and companies still can’t appeal against the outcomes of national security reviews.