This article elaborates the meaning of policy borrowing and Phillips’ theoretical framework of policy borrowing. Then, it provides a background of various practices of policy borrowing in education and mathematics education specifically. Thirdly, the article argues two contributions of policy borrowing to policy in mathematics education and envision mathematics education policies in future. Finally, it takes China’s mathematics curriculum reform as a case to analyse two contribution of policy borrowing to practice in mathematics education and conclude by envisioning the future mathematics education practice.