Demand response is an important way to solve the imbalance of power supply and demand. Transactive control is a new demand response control method, which can effectively achieve peak shaving, load shifting and improve power system flexibility. At present, there is a lack of research on transactive control in China. To promote the application and development of transactive control in China’s demand response of air-conditioning, the relevant foreign research content is investigated deeply, and the transactive control principle, structure and advantages, bidding and clearing strategies,calculation methods for indoor temperature set points are analyzed. Several enlightenments and suggestions are summarized, and the emphases and difficulties of applying transactive control strategies are discussed.