ACFIC, full name: All-China Federation of Industry & Commerce is not a normal trade association like others in China.
ACFIC was established in 1950s, the only trade association existed in China until late 1970s. The initial purpose of its establishment was to supervise the entire private enterprise and help convert them into state-owned enterprises. Today, with the Open & Reform Policy, ACFIC was not the only association in China.
Unlike the other associations in China, ACFIC is not a normal social organization, it belongs to the system of CCP (China Communist Party). Because of this, ACFIC is independent from the other associations and not always be regulated by laws that always regulates the other associations. Therefore, many potential trade associations that can not easily find a competent business unit and can not legally register are usually willing to be a branch of ACFIC, for that they can avoid the dual regulation system to carry out their actions. However, they are still illegal in law.