Covering about one-third of the global economy, RCEP has been in effect for four years now - foreign trade at our doorstep is becoming increasingly prosperous

Strong penetration power, closer connection between production and supply chains

The foreign trade business at the doorstep is becoming increasingly prosperous, not only reflected in the growth of trade volume, but also in the closer connection of industrial and supply chains within the region.

Data shows that from 2022 to November 2025, Qingdao Customs and Jinan Customs applied RCEP tax rates to imported goods worth 20.94 billion yuan, reducing taxes by 840 million yuan. In addition to supplying the domestic market, a considerable portion of these imported goods also become raw materials for processing and export.

Wang Jiashun, the head of the International Business Department of Qingdao Kaichuang Food Co., Ltd., told our reporter that consumers in Europe, America and other places prefer canned vegetables and fruits, and the per capita consumption is significantly higher than that in China. As a leading enterprise in the export of canned fruits and vegetables in China, we have created over 95% of our food products exclusively for export, with overseas markets covering hundreds of countries and regions, and an annual export value exceeding 100 million US dollars. Since the RCEP came into effect four years ago, the canned food processing and export business has been doing better and better.

Our canned fruits exported to Australia require the use of tropical fruits such as pineapple and passion fruit originating from Southeast Asia. Prior to 2022, the company was unable to enjoy corresponding tariff reductions due to the inability to meet the rules of origin of the China Australia Free Trade Agreement. After the full implementation of RCEP, we utilized the cumulative rules of origin to obtain RCEP certificates of origin and were exempt from paying the 5% import tariff in Australia. In this way, the selection of raw materials for tropical fruits in Southeast Asia has become wider. ”Wang Jiashun said that the Australian and New Zealand markets accounted for nearly 1/5 of the company's export share. In 2025, the company's imports from ASEAN countries increased by 27.6% year-on-year. Nowadays, the company is actively developing new canned tropical fruits such as mangoes and papayas to seize more business opportunities.

From having both imports and exports, to large imports and exports, and then to optimal imports and exports... The "penetration power" of trade liberalization and facilitation at the doorstep of the industry and supply chain is not only reflected in food processing, but also injects development momentum into large industries such as automobiles with long supply chains and wide involvement.

The relevant person in charge of FAW Import and Export Company told our reporter that since 2022, the company has imported about 200 shipments of goods from RCEP member countries, mainly focusing on components such as bolts, relays, locks, etc. Thanks to the gradually decreasing tariff arrangements under the agreement, the procurement costs of enterprises have been effectively optimized, and the comprehensive competitiveness of vehicle and component products has been continuously improved, resulting in stronger resilience of the industrial chain. Not only that, RCEP also provides assistance for domestic cars to "sail overseas".

With the trade convenience brought by RCEP, we have successfully exported over 1400 'Liberation' brand commercial vehicles to ASEAN markets such as Indonesia, achieving a key breakthrough in the regional market. It can be said that the unified rules of origin in RCEP have simplified the identification procedures, reduced compliance costs, and made it more convenient for FAW's vehicle products to circulate within the region. ”The person in charge said that during this process, Changchun Customs provided fast customs clearance services for enterprises by setting up dedicated personnel to review RCEP customs declarations and adopting models such as "national customs clearance integration" and "early declaration".

For automobile manufacturing enterprises, RCEP is not a simple tool for tariff reduction, but an open stage for Chinese automobile companies to deeply integrate into the global industrial and supply chains, optimize resource allocation, and achieve high-level "going global". FAW is using a more proactive and systematic strategy to tap into the potential of RCEP. The company will set up dedicated positions to closely track the RCEP and member countries' annual tax reduction schedules and product lists, establish a dynamic database, and ensure that the optimal tax rates can be applied in the procurement and sales ends in a timely manner, transforming the benefits of openness into tangible product competitiveness. ”The aforementioned person in charge said.