Promoting trade optimization and upgrading, helping to achieve carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals - Sixteen measures to expand green trade
The Ministry of Commerce recently issued the "Implementation Opinions on Expanding Green Trade" (hereinafter referred to as the "Opinions"), which focuses on the shortcomings of enterprises' green and low-carbon development capabilities, the potential for reducing carbon emissions in logistics links to be explored, and the incomplete support and guarantee system in China's green trade development. It proposes 16 targeted measures to better cultivate new momentum in foreign trade.
Focus on four aspects
From the Opinion, the 16 specific measures are focused on actively expanding green trade and promoting trade optimization and upgrading. Recently, Li Chenggang, the representative and deputy minister of the Ministry of Commerce for international trade negotiations, introduced at the State Council Policy Briefing held by the State Council Information Office that the measures proposed in the "Opinions" mainly include enhancing the green and low-carbon development capabilities of foreign trade enterprises, expanding the import and export of green and low-carbon related products and technologies, creating a favorable international environment for green trade development, and establishing a sound green trade support and guarantee system.
For example, in promoting green design and production in foreign trade enterprises, we encourage them to actively use renewable energy, reduce carbon emissions from foreign trade products through equipment updates, process upgrades, and substitution of renewable resource raw materials; In accelerating the green and low-carbon development of logistics, we will promote the "revolution of iron" and "revolution of water" in the long-distance transportation of bulk goods and containers in foreign trade, and promote the international mutual recognition and sharing of modular container equipment; In order to enhance the green level of exhibitions, we will promote the establishment of green and low-carbon special exhibition areas and hold related themed activities for exhibitions with conditions, and accelerate the formulation and revision of national and industry standards such as green exhibitions; Encourage industries and enterprises with conditions to build industry carbon footprint factor databases in accelerating the construction of carbon footprint databases for foreign trade products
At present, we are working with relevant departments to promote the improvement of green product standards, certification, and labeling systems, accelerate the mutual recognition of standards with major trading partners, and promote the better integration of Chinese green products, technologies, and services into the global market, "said Li Chenggang.
Following the trend of green and low-carbon
Nowadays, green and low-carbon products have become a new driving force for the development of foreign trade.
In recent years, the export performance of green and low-carbon related products in China has been impressive. For example, in the first three quarters of this year, the export growth rate of wind turbines and components exceeded 30%; the export value of photovoltaic products has exceeded 200 billion yuan for four consecutive years; the export volume of electric vehicles exceeded 2 million for the first time last year; the export of green transportation vehicles such as railway electric locomotives, electric motorcycles, and bicycles has also maintained strong growth. China's energy-saving and environmentally friendly household appliances, recycled fiber textiles and clothing and other green products are widely popular in the international market. "Li Chenggang said that green trade provides important support for China's stable scale and optimal structure of foreign trade.
Wang Zhihua, Director General of the Department of Foreign Trade of the Ministry of Commerce, said that some key exhibitions such as the Canton Fair have already taken the lead in the practice of green development. The Canton Fair and China International Import Expo have achieved "two 100%": one is that the green power supply rate has reached 100%, and the other is that the green standard rate of special booth has reached 100%.
Starting from 2022, based on the newly revised exhibition industry statistical survey system, we have added several green related indicators such as green building area, electricity consumption, and waste discharge in exhibition statistics. This is like conducting a green health check for the exhibition, allowing us to more accurately monitor the energy consumption level and emission reduction effectiveness of the exhibition. In May of this year, we optimized these indicators to make the data more scientific and accurate, and to provide better data reference for improving the level of exhibition greening, "said Wang Zhihua.
Li Chenggang said that China has always adhered to an open and cooperative attitude, focusing on three aspects: deep participation in global governance of green trade, continuous improvement of the "green content" of high standard free trade zone networks, and deepening domestic reforms to align with international green standards, in order to create a favorable international environment for the development of green trade. We will continue to follow the global trend of green and low-carbon development, further consolidate and enhance China's ability to serve the world with green trade, and better share the achievements of green and low-carbon with the world, "said Li Chenggang.
Joining hands to gather transformation synergy
Expanding green trade requires joint efforts from all parties.
According to Wang Peng, Director of the Energy Conservation and Comprehensive Utilization Department of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, as of the end of 2024, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has cultivated a total of 6430 national green factories and 491 green industrial parks; The proportion of national green factory output value exceeds 20%. Next, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology will adhere to the concept of green development, make greater efforts to promote green design and manufacturing, accelerate the green transformation and upgrading of the entire chain of product design, manufacturing, use, recycling, and reuse. By combining "dots, lines, and surfaces", we will create a green industrial ecosystem and lay a solid industrial foundation for expanding green trade, "said Wang Peng.
Guo Huanxin, Director of the Metrology Department of the State Administration for Market Regulation, said that the State Administration for Market Regulation will continue to deepen the promotion of the green product certification system and support the green development of foreign trade enterprises. For example, focusing on the green development needs of various industries, selecting priority areas and key regions, orderly expanding the scope of certification, and promoting the expansion of certification from products to industrial and supply chains. For example, in collaboration with relevant departments, the "Management Measures for Green Product Certification and Labeling" have been revised and released, establishing a strict and transparent regulatory mechanism and measures to standardize and purify the market order of green certification.
Wang Xin, Director of the Research Bureau of the People's Bank of China, said that we will promote the application of green finance and transformational finance standards, and support innovative financing methods such as credit, bonds, and equity; Encourage financial institutions to increase financing support for productive service links such as research and development design, logistics operation and maintenance, carbon emission certification and evaluation, and waste resource recycling, and reduce the financing threshold and cost for light asset and green service trade enterprises; Support the issuance of green financial products in global financial markets, providing more Chinese green assets for global investors