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.

The Export Import Bank of China plans to issue over 1.2 trillion yuan in new foreign trade loans (over 60% of total loans) and nearly 860 billion yuan in manufacturing loans (over 60% medium & long-term) by 2025, supporting foreign trade entities, advanced manufacturing, digital economy, AI, and cultivating new quality productivity.

Recent South Korea-China leaders' meeting focuses on transforming diplomatic thaw into measurable economic/tech cooperation (supply chain repair, AI, smart cities) and cultural ties. Lee Jae-myung's visit underscores stable bilateral relations as critical for both countries' prosperity, security, and strategic position, with deep economic integration and complementary industries.

Irish PM Martin, on his first China visit in 14 years (and first since taking office), expresses willingness to deepen bilateral cooperation in economy, green energy, tech innovation etc. Bilateral trade has grown exponentially. He emphasizes multilateral dialogue, notes Ireland will assume EU rotating presidency and support pragmatic China policy, seeing promising cooperation potential.

Wuxi, a key Chinese electric vehicle base, exports products globally (including Belt and Road countries). Wuxi Customs provides "one enterprise, one policy" services, helping enterprises benefit from FTA zero tariffs. From Jan-Nov 2025, Wuxi's electric vehicle exports reached 4.03b yuan, with 2.07b yuan to Belt and Road countries (up 27.4% YoY).

Recently, highland wines from Sangri County, Shannan, Xizang (produced by Pazhu Rongshun Manor) successfully tested the Hong Kong market for the first time. Barkhor Customs provided "one-on-one" support to facilitate customs clearance, and the winery plans to expand exports globally.

The 2026 National Foreign Exchange Management Work Conference outlined key tasks: deepening foreign exchange facilitation reform, expanding high-level opening-up, enhancing exchange rate risk management, advancing bank foreign exchange expansion reform, supporting regional financial constructions, and strengthening risk prevention/reserve asset management.

On January 6th, the working conference of the organizing committee of the 6th China International Consumer Goods Expo was held in Beijing. Vice Minister Sheng Qiuping and Hainan Executive Vice Governor Batel attended and spoke, emphasizing the expo's significance as the first national exhibition post Hainan Free Trade Port's closure and operation, with Hainan to make every effort to host it.