China is turbocharging global commerce with plans to expand its cross-border trade facilitation pilot to 45 cities this year – nearly doubling last year’s 25-city initiative. The General Administration of Customs (GAC) announced the move on Monday, revealing new additions like Wuhan, Xi’an, and Zhuhai to the growing list of innovation hubs.
🚀 What’s New? The six-month campaign, backed by 24 government departments, will roll out measures to:
Upgrade digital and green trade infrastructure
Streamline customs clearance with AI-powered systems
Boost logistics efficiency for faster global deliveries
Align Chinese standards with international norms
Sun Meijun, GAC’s director, emphasized this expansion will help businesses 'secure orders and explore markets' amid global economic uncertainties. The move also reinforces China’s commitment to WTO trade agreements – a key signal to international partners.
💡 Why It Matters: Since 2018, these annual campaigns have implemented 144 trade-boosting measures nationwide. With 20 new cities joining this year, expect faster shipping times, smarter ports, and more opportunities for overseas investors eyeing Asia’s largest economy.
