China implements zero tariff for 20 non-least-developed African countries with diplomatic ties from May 1, 2026 (2-year term). As the first major economy to offer unilateral comprehensive zero tariff to all African/least-developed partner countries, this measure boosts China-Africa trade, supports African development, and advances bilateral cooperation amid global protectionism.

中国发布《促进综合保税区扩容提质若干措施》含24项改革，目标2025年进出口占全国16%，推动开放经济、产业升级及监管效率提升。

On April 24, China's Ministry of Commerce submitted comments to the EU on the Industrial Accelerator Act, expressing concerns over its restrictive foreign investment requirements, institutional discrimination, and potential WTO rule violations. It suggested deleting discriminatory clauses and warned of countermeasures if the EU ignores the comments.

On April 22, the US House Foreign Affairs Committee passed multiple export control bills including the MATCH Act. China opposes abusing export controls under national security pretexts, noting the bills would harm the international trade order and global semiconductor supply chain. China will monitor the process, evaluate impacts, and take measures to safeguard Chinese enterprises' legitimate rights.

The Ministry of Commerce and State Administration for Market Regulation issued the "Action Plan for Standardization of Trade in Services (2026-2030)", specifying overall requirements, work system construction, key area standards, internationalization, foundation consolidation and implementation to enhance service trade standardization for high-quality development.

On March 28th, at WTO's 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14), 66 members including China issued a declaration on the temporary implementation arrangement of the Electronic Commerce Agreement, the first set of global digital trade rules. It covers background, importance, main content, and China's next steps.

On April 23, China's Ministry of Commerce responded to US Customs and Border Protection's tariff refund starting from April 20, opposing US unilateral tariffs (violating international trade rules, US domestic laws, harming global order), noting the refund is a corrective step (tariffs borne by US consumers), and advising Chinese export enterprises to safeguard rights.

On April 22, China and Georgia signed the China-Georgia FTA Upgrade Protocol. It updates SPS and TBT chapters, adds investment and e-commerce chapters, boosting bilateral trade, investment and cooperation. It's the first FTA after the Belt and Road Initiative and between China and Eurasian countries.

First China-Africa Entrepreneurs Forum held on April 21 at AU HQ in Addis Ababa. Theme: Deepening practical China-Africa cooperation. Over 700 attendees. Key speakers highlighted Africa's potential, China-Africa cooperation, zero tariff policies. 2025 China-Africa trade reached $348b (17.7% YoY growth). Hosted by Chinese Embassy in AU & AU Commission, with 1 main + 5 sub-forums on core areas.

The UK cannot cut ties with China, says CBI head Ryan Newton Smith. British businesses view China as key to growth; China is UK's 3rd largest trade partner. Li Haidong notes UK business community emphasizes mutual benefit, while some politicians' pan-security approach harms cooperation.

China’s 15th Five-Year Plan has a strong start with 5.0% year-on-year GDP growth. High-quality development is supported by the Party’s leadership, strategic foresight/adaptability, social creativity, energy revolution, manufacturing upgrading, and new quality productive forces, demonstrating economic resilience and sustainability.

On April 18th, Tianjin Port launched the "Mediterranean Migsan" new container route linking China (Tianjin, Qingdao, Shanghai) to South Africa (Kuha, Durban), deploying 12 140,000-ton ships with weekly departures (shortest voyage 40 days). Tianjin Customs streamlined processes to boost efficiency. Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei's Q1 Africa trade rose 16.8% to 95.95 billion yuan.

Chinese Ambassador to the US Xie Feng emphasized at the 56th World Trade Center Association Global Business Forum in Philadelphia that China-US economic, trade and tech cooperation should return to common sense and rationality, opposing overgeneralized national security and calling for addressing bilateral issues. The forum attracted nearly 500 reps from over 50 countries.

On April 20th, the 29th China-South Korea Joint Economic and Trade Commission meeting was held in Beijing. Both sides discussed deepening bilateral economic and trade relations, accelerating FTA second-phase negotiations, preparing the 2026-2030 cooperation plan, and strengthening regional/multilateral cooperation to promote cooperation to a new level.

The article covers China's Q1 2026 economic performance (5.0% GDP growth) as the 15th Five-Year Plan's start, highlighting steady growth, economic resilience, new quality productivity development, and policy support for stable high-quality development.

US-India bilateral trade negotiations resumed on April 20, 2026 in Washington D.C., amid US tariff policy changes after the Supreme Court overturned equivalent tariffs. Talks cover tariff adjustments, structural issues (digital service tax, overcapacity), and Middle East conflict impacts, with a possible short-term temporary agreement.

On April 17, MOFCOM submitted comments to the EU on its revised Cybersecurity Law draft, expressing concerns over its subjective "non-technical risks", suspected WTO rule violations, harm to China-EU trade/global supply chains, and suggesting revisions. China will take countermeasures if discriminatory measures are enacted.

The 139th Canton Fair opens in Guangzhou, drawing global attention. Meanwhile, Guangdong's "Mutual Benefit: A Thousand Years of Guangdong's Foreign Trade" special exhibition (a "Great Ideological and Political Course") links ancient foreign trade culture with current practices, transforming historical confidence into open development determination to promote high-quality growth.

At the 6th China International Consumer Products Expo, Chinese enterprises are deepening cooperation with Southeast Asia, shifting from goods exporters to industrial chain organizers. China-ASEAN FTA 3.0 and RCEP drive bilateral trade growth, with mutual industrial chain integration creating win-win situations across agriculture, electronics, and new consumption sectors.

In the first quarter of the 15th Five-Year Plan's first year, China's GDP grew 5.0% year-on-year, achieving a good start. Major indicators rebounded, with stable fundamentals, innovative new drivers, improved livelihoods, and effective policies demonstrating economic resilience and high-quality development momentum.