This prohibition against monopoly agreements is subject to a range of exceptions: it does not apply to restrictions that improve technology, improve product quality or production efficiency, enhance the competitiveness of small or medium-sized companies, protect the parties from economic downturns, protect "legitimate interests" relating to foreign trade and economic cooperation, or achieve "social public interests" such as energy conservation or environmental protection. But it is the parties' burden to show that an exception applies, and it remains to be seen how receptive the Chinese government will be to proffered exceptions.