China to roll out new measures to remove barriers in foreign trade

The government will facilitate smooth domestic transportation of foreign trade goods, and help COVID-affected foreign trade companies resume production as soon as possible, ministry spokesman Gao Feng told an online news briefing.

Gao said the government will expand the scale of direct docking business services between global shipping groups and foreign trade companies, as well as provide more container spaces for small and medium enterprises to sell their products overseas, official Chinese media reported.

The State Council, China's cabinet, released a circular a few days back to guide foreign trade enterprises through current challenges and maintain steady and high-quality growth of the sector to stabilise the economy and industrial and supply chains.

Local governments should establish services and safeguard systems for key foreign trade enterprises, and keep track of and solve their difficulties in a bid to support their production and operations. Support from related departments will be provided to stabilise foreign trade supply chains for businesses affected by COVID-19, the circular said.

The circular reiterated that smooth logistics for foreign trade goods will be ensured. While incorporating them into priority goods categories in transportation, local governments should streamline logistics procedures to reduce the waiting time for berths on international liners, and ensure the transport of important parts, devices and products.

China's foreign trade rose by 7.9 per cent year on year to 12.58 trillion yuan ($1.88 trillion) in the first four months of the year, data from the general administration of customs showed.

The ministry will enlarge the growth space of China's high-level opening-up platforms like foreign trade transformation and upgrading bases, comprehensive cross-border e-commerce pilot zones and pilot free trade zones to further optimise the nation's business environment.

China will also work with member economies of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to actively build the 3.0 version of China-ASEAN Free Trade Area, and build strong regional economic and trade relations, he added.

ALCHEMPro News Desk (DS)