3503 Sales promotion for others

Practice notes (J&C)

Though this group has few items, it is the group most used by retail, wholesale and e-commerce platforms: sales promotion for others, procurement for others (purchasing goods or services for other businesses), import-export agency, auctioneering, marketing, providing an online marketplace for buyers and sellers of goods and services, and newer items such as promoting goods through influencers and marketing for others through product placement in virtual environments.

China currently accepts only retail or wholesale services for pharmaceutical, veterinary and sanitary preparations and medical supplies (3509); wordings such as “retail services”, “wholesale services”, “supermarket” and “shopping mall” for general goods are not accepted. Retailers and platforms usually protect themselves through the items in this group (e.g. “sales promotion for others”, “providing an online marketplace”) (practical tip).

This group has only one paragraph, and the items within it are similar to one another; it has no official notes and is not found similar to 3501 advertising or 3502 consultancy, so each must be filed separately. No additions or deletions to this group in 2026.

Applies to the 2026 edition · Published 2026-10-09 · Reviewed 2026-10-09