Interpretation of Policy Measures for the 2026 Special Campaign on Cross-Border Trade Facilitation

To implement the spirit of the Two Sessions and continuously foster a world-class market-oriented, law-based and internationalized business environment, the General Administration of Customs (GAC), together with the Cyberspace Administration of the CPC Central Committee, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Commerce, the People’s Bank of China, the State Administration for Market Regulation, the State Financial Regulatory Administration, the China Securities Regulatory Commission, the National Intellectual Property Administration, the National Data Administration, the National Immigration Administration, the National Railway Administration, the Civil Aviation Administration of China, the State Post Bureau, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, the National Medical Products Administration, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and China State Railway Group and other 24 departments and entities, has jointly arranged to carry out the 2026 Special Campaign on Cross-Border Trade Facilitation in 45 cities. Centered on the key tasks of upgrading goods trade, vigorously developing trade in services, and pursuing innovative development of digital trade and green trade, a new round of facilitation policy measures to improve the quality and efficiency of foreign trade has been formulated, covering 29 measures under five major areas as follows:

I. Deepen innovation in customs clearance and supervision models

Optimize export supervision over key commodities including the “new three” products and intermediate goods, deliver targeted support under the principle of one policy for one region, one policy for one enterprise, one policy for one product, and help enterprises better explore international markets. Improve support concerning technical trade measures, continue outreach activities such as Technical Trade Escort to Help Enterprises Go Global, strengthen customs protection of intellectual property rights and support enterprises in expanding overseas markets. Implement differentiated supervision for imported and exported agricultural and food products to accelerate the market launch of debut products and premium fruits. Push forward integrated supervision at ports and localities, strengthen cross-regional coordination, and facilitate customs clearance for imported machinery and equipment, high-tech products and bulk resource commodities. Simplify documentation and clearance procedures for imported medicines and enable self-service printing of the Customs Clearance Form for Imported Drugs via the International Trade Single Window. Support the development of distinctive businesses of the Hainan Free Trade Port and advance the construction of the global introduction and transit base for animal and plant germplasm resources as well as the Nanfan Agricultural Silicon Valley. Increase allocation of supervision resources, upgrade laboratory testing and identification capacity and raise the standard of trade compliance management.

II. Optimize supervision and services for new forms of foreign trade

Continue to improve the development ecosystem of cross-border e-commerce to make its import and export more convenient, and launch a pilot scheme for exporting cosmetics via bonded cross-border e-commerce. Upgrade comprehensive supervision services for overseas warehouses, support enterprises in applying facilitation measures such as transit and return of goods, and guide enterprises to make full use of the policy of tax refund upon departure for goods exported via cross-border e-commerce overseas warehouses. Improve the capacity for exporting small parcels under market procurement trade and cross-border e-commerce, expand the pilot scope of the “inspection before loading” scheme for consolidated export cargo, enabling enterprises to consolidate shipments for export in a more flexible and efficient manner. Build supply chain hubs based on comprehensive bonded zones and support eligible regions to accelerate the development of international distribution businesses. Further support qualified exhibition organizers to adopt unified guarantee arrangements, streamline entry and exit formalities for exhibition goods and improve services for international exhibitions.

III. Boost the efficiency of cross-border logistics and transport

Promote efficient operation of multimodal transport, strengthen inter-departmental supervision coordination under the “one waybill, one container” framework, advance pilot application of multimodal supervision modes including rail-road, rail-water and water-water transshipment, realize one waybill throughout the whole journey for customs supervision of multimodal transport and lift the efficiency of cross-border logistics. Expand the coverage of international connecting flights, realize one check-in, one security check and through baggage transfer under the connecting flight model, push for connectivity of transit information for international flights so that passengers can enjoy one ticket for the whole journey and direct baggage delivery, and facilitate entry and exit of passengers at air ports. Optimize maritime cross-border transport services, support enterprises to carry out international transit consolidation, allow overseas and domestic goods to be deconsolidated and reconsolidated before re-export, and expand the radiation effect of international hub ports. Elevate the development of cross-border freight trains and international road transport, advance the integration of transport and trade, and support transport businesses of TIR + cross-border e-commerce and TIR + bonded goods. Advance digitalization of logistics documents, expand application scenarios of electronic signatures and safeguard information security for cross-border trade.

IV. Strengthen development and connectivity of smart ports

Proactively support local governments to fulfill their primary responsibility for territorial administration, speed up improvement of port infrastructure, support renovation and upgrading of port inspection facilities and equipment, and promote capacity expansion and quality improvement of key ports. Expand application scenarios of “Artificial Intelligence +”, step up efforts to roll out new applications such as intelligent loading and unloading, intelligent inspection and intelligent laboratories. Pilot the development of green and low-carbon ports, encourage the adoption of advanced energy-saving, emission-reduction and low-carbon technologies in port sectors, support the provision of bonded green fuel bunkering services such as methanol and ammonia for international voyaging ships, and accelerate the green transition of ports. Improve the enterprise service functions of the International Trade Single Window, enhance its one-stop intelligent service capacity, and deliver more precise and convenient services for users targeting new forms of trade including trade in services, digital trade and green trade. Further advance the Smart Customs Partnership Programme, strengthen international exchanges and cooperation, expand connectivity of the Single Window, promote cross-border cooperation and mutual recognition in the port sector, and further help enterprises cut costs and raise efficiency.

V. Enhance comprehensive service support for enterprises

Scale up credit cultivation services and support more eligible enterprises to obtain the status of Authorized Economic Operator (AEO). The AEO status serves not only as a VIP pass for domestic customs clearance of high-credit enterprises, but also a green pass for exploring global markets and lifting international competitiveness. Continuously unlock dividends of the voluntary disclosure policy, uphold the principle of facilitation for law-abiding entities, leave room for corrective action for compliant enterprises, and preserve and stimulate the vitality of market entities. Push forward carbon footprint accounting and support enterprises to develop green trade. Explore differentiated management for trade in services enterprises and data based on classified credit management of enterprises, to ensure efficient, convenient and secure cross-border flow of data. Optimize export credit insurance services on the International Trade Single Window, enrich supply of products such as credit insurance-backed loans, and better escort enterprises in their global expansion. Steadily improve the facilitation level of RMB settlement for cross-border trade, accelerate capital turnover of enterprises and strengthen their risk resilience.

A series of interpretations on these policy measures will be released in the near future.