This article introduces Qingdao Port's sea rail intermodal progress, including customs' "land-sea linkage, sea-rail direct transport" mode that shortens logistics time and cuts costs. In the first 11 months of 2025, Qingdao Port handled 2.625 million TEUs (up 11% YoY), serving as a key export channel for Yellow River Basin provinces.

Rongcheng is China's key squid distribution center and Asia's largest processing base. In Jan-Nov 2025, its squid product exports hit 4.334 billion yuan (up 26.5% YoY). Qingdao Customs supports it via AEO, RCEP benefits, and efficient clearance, with products exported to over 30 countries/regions.

During the northern hemisphere cold wave, Qingdao's cold-resistant clothing exports grow: Qingdao Zhengyuan Clothing (20+ years export) recorded 100M yuan 2025 Jan-Nov exports (+17.6% yoy). Qingdao Dagang Customs supports via targeted policies (EU standards, RCEP) and smart supervision (advance declaration, urgent channels), driving Qingdao's total 524M yuan exports (+5.3% yoy).

Recently, 125 refrigerators were shipped from Qingdao Airport Comprehensive Bonded Zone to Russia via the "China Europe freight train+bonded" mode, which combines bonded zone policy benefits (tax rebates) and China Europe freight train convenience, reducing costs and waiting time for enterprises.

Laixi, Qingdao sees steady overseas peanut product orders. Qingdao Customs supports exports via aflatoxin control, field guidance, and smart systems like the Peanut Products Industry Brain. 2025 exports rose 6.7% year-on-year; EU sampling rate cut to 10% from 20% due to low aflatoxin notifications.

Shandong Haomai Heavy Equipment (Haomai Machinery subsidiary) uses Qingdao Customs' enterprise group processing trade model to expand heavy offshore equipment production, cut costs. 2025 projections: 120% import/export growth, ~760k yuan savings. The model (replicated nationwide) benefits 18 groups/69 firms.

Qingdao Customs issued RCEP certificates of origin to enterprises like Qingdao Kaichuang Food and FAW Jiefang Qingdao Automobile, enabling them to enjoy tariff concessions (e.g., zero tariff for canned passion fruit to Australia, dump trucks to Indonesia). Qingdao Customs also carried out "Spring Breeze Benefiting Enterprises" action, issuing 457,000 RCEP certificates with value over 100 billion yuan.

Qingdao Beer's Year of the Horse Zodiac Beer (with Chinese cultural elements) is exported globally via Qingdao Port. Customs' smart measures (remote inspection, cloud issuance) cut clearance time, boosting its export orders by over 12% year-on-year. Qingdao Customs' "one enterprise, one policy" supports specialty food exports, with alcoholic beverage exports up 12.5% (Nov 2025-Jan 2026).

As Spring Festival approaches, persimmon cakes (symbolizing good luck) are favored overseas. Qingdao Xinyubang’s 120k yuan persimmon batch is exported; Qingdao Dagang Customs provides green channel, one-on-one guidance. 2025 Jan-Nov persimmon cake exports via Qingdao reached 4.5m yuan (up 42.7%) to NZ, Australia; customs will continue support.

In 2025, Linyi Qiyang International Airport added/resumed 4 international routes. Linyi Customs under Qingdao Customs took measures like seamless supervision, zero-wait clearance, closed-loop management and policy promotions. Next, it will optimize supervision to support new routes and enhance passenger experience.

As Spring Festival approaches, Yantai International Airport is busy with cross-border e-commerce flights carrying Chinese style clothing (Hanfu, etc.) to South Korea. Overseas demand for such clothing rises, and Yantai Customs offers convenient services (7×24 duty, advance declaration) to speed up exports of Chinese cultural products.

Daxing Airport Customs seized 11 boxes (166 cigars) from a green channel passenger (carrying for profit). Customs reminds inbound passengers of tobacco entry duty-free limits (vary by region).

Daoxiangcun Food Group's Beijing factory is producing Spring Festival pastries for export (up 20% vs 2024). Beijing Customs offers advanced services like "three in advance" mode and "cloud issuance" of certificates to facilitate export, boosting Chinese time-honored brands' international competitiveness.

On January 8th, China's Ministry of Commerce held its first regular press conference of the month. Spokesperson He Yadong stated that China-South Korea economic and trade relations are close with deep supply chain ties. China is South Korea's largest trading partner, their 2025 Jan-Nov trade volume reached $298.9b, and South Korea's cumulative investment in China is $104.65b. They signed cooperation memorandums and will promote FTA negotiations and emerging field cooperation.

According to Fuzhou Customs, in 2025, it issued over 7000 China-Korea FTA origin certificates with a visa amount of 6.17 billion yuan (up 44.16% YoY). Over the past decade, the FTA has brought tariff reductions, promoting China-Korea trade. Fuzhou Customs implements policies and builds smart customs to help enterprises reduce costs and expand markets.

On January 8, Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wu Jianghao rejected Japan's Deputy Foreign Minister Funabashi Jianyu's negotiation request regarding China's strengthened export controls on dual-use items to Japan. Wu emphasized the measures are legitimate to safeguard national security and fulfill non-proliferation obligations.

He Yadong, China's Commerce Ministry spokesperson, said China's willingness to deepen economic and trade ties with Venezuela remains unchanged regardless of its political situation. China opposes US hegemonic acts violating international law and Venezuela's sovereignty. China-Venezuela cooperation is law-protected, no other country can interfere. China's Latin America cooperation follows equality and mutual benefit principles.

2026 marks the 70th anniversary of China-Africa diplomatic ties. Chinese FM visited Africa in early 2026, attended the opening of "China-Africa Cultural Exchange Year". China adheres to sincere cooperation with Africa, promotes modernization via pragmatic projects, and jointly builds a China-Africa community of shared future.

At the start of 2026, Chinese foreign trade enterprises (Yadea, Red Bean, Jingnuo) accelerate with innovations (trade-investment integration, "Three Crosses" strategy, pet economy segment) and policy support, upgrading China's foreign trade model.

This article outlines China's 2026 focus on expanding high-level opening-up, including institutional opening-up (pilot FTZs, Hainan FTP), enhancing foreign trade quality, advancing Belt and Road cooperation, and fostering global win-win outcomes via FTAs and multilateral efforts.