Foreigners can buy A-shares

China will let foreign investors buy tradeable A-shares in its publicly listed firms as part of an ongoing effort to dissolve non-tradeable state shares, according to media reports that cited a new policy by the China Securities Regulatory Commission and the Ministry of Commerce. A-shares are now closed to foreigner investors, but their supply is poised to increase as China is now converting its non-tradeable state shares into regular tradeable A-shares. Foreign investors that take strategic stakes through A-shares will be subject to specified "lock-up" periods during which they must continue to hold the shares before being allowed to sell them.