The guests during the last part of the Round Table on the Chinese economy, a multimedia talk show organized by the Xinhua press agency. (Photo: Chen Yehua)
The Hainan de China free trade port is preparing to launch an independent customs operation across the island on December 18, 2025, thus illustrating the country’s desire to advance a high-level opening.
In the latest episode of the Round Table on the Chinese economy, a multimedia talk show organized by the Xinhua news agency, senior officials from Chinese economic departments have shared their views of the Hainan free trade port policy and its role in promoting the country’s opening strategy.
As a largest special economic area in China, Hainan has unique advantages to serve as a reform and opening experimentation field. In April 2018, China unveiled its plans to transform the island into a free trade pilot area, with the long-term objective of developing a free trade port with Chinese characteristics. A master plan published in 2020 aimed to make Hainan a high -level opening pole influential worldwide by the middle of the century.
Aerial view of an off -charge shopping center in Sanya, the city of the Chinese province of Hainan (South), May 29, 2025. (Photo: Yang Guanyu)
“The launch of an independent customs operation across the island will give Hainan a greater latitude to guide more ambitious opening measures,” said Cai Ping, an official of the National Development Commission and the Reformation (CNDR).
These initiatives will not only stimulate high -quality development of the island, but also to serve as a test bench for wider national reform and opening, thus sending a clear message to the whole world: China’s commitment to a high -level opening is unshakable and its doors will continue to open more, said Ms. Cai.
Zero rate incentive
“This measure aims to expand openness and accelerate development,” said Ms. Cai, stressing that Hainan’s opening was not only to lift restrictions, but also systematically implementing an institutional framework which guarantees the effective free movement of people, goods and capital.
A central pillar of the political framework is the strengthening of the policy of zero customs tariffs. “Companies will benefit from broader incentives for zero customs tariffs,” said Wu Jingfang, a head of the Ministry of Finance.
The proportion of pricing lines of products benefiting from zero tariff treatment in the port of free trade in Hainan will drop from 21% to 74%, while the number of articles free from customs duties in Hainan will drop from around 1,900 to around 6,600.
Imported products that undergo a value -added transformation of at least 30% in Hainan can enter the continent without customs duties. In addition, certain goods currently prohibited or subject to national restrictions will benefit from opening policies in Hainan.
People in an off -tax store in Sanya, the city of the Chinese province of Hainan (South), May 29, 2025. (Photo: Yang Guanyu)
These measures will further reduce business costs, attract businesses upstream and downstream in Hainan and promote group development of industrial channels, said Ms. Wu.
With the implementation of a void customs duties system after the independent customs operation, high-quality global resources will be able to flock to Hainan with greater freedom and efficiency, she said.
Commercial liberalization and facilitation represent the decisive characteristics of a free trade port. Jiang Zijun, from the Ministry of Commerce, stressed that one of the main lines of the trade in the port of free trade consisted of the adoption of more favorable zero customs rights measures, in parallel with more flexible commercial management rules.
Long -term commitment to opening
Experts believe that the launch of an unprecedented independent customs operation at the island scale is a complex company, for which there is no ready -to -use model.
It is indeed a “complex and systemic project”, which requires meticulous synchronization in terms of political transition, risk management and regulatory coordination, said Ms. CAI of the CNDR.
In the future, the Hainan free trade area will prioritize the promotion of free and effective traffic of the main production factors, including trade, investments, cross-border capital, staff and logistics, as well as secure and orderly traffic, she added.
In response to the evolution of the needs of the Hainan free trade port and to the desire for a greater opening of China, the Ministry of Finance will continue to advance the tax system reforms, noted Ms. WU. The main priorities will include the promotion of preferential tax policies for companies and individuals in order to attract the best talents and the leading companies, as well as the expansion of the list of products zero tariff treatment.
Entrance point to the border for passengers of a cruise ship in Sanya, the city of the Chinese province of Hainan (South), January 3, 2025. (Photo: Xinhua)
Thanks to the optimization of its commercial environment, Hainan has established itself as a destination of choice for foreign investments, thus ranking among the most efficient provinces of China.
In a context of protectionism and growing challenges in the world commercial order, the planned launch of an independent customs operation at the scale of the island of Hainan, as well as the progressive measures aimed at setting up a political and institutional framework for a free trade port of the highest level of opening, represent a strong signal of the commitment of China in favor of a further opening and the promotion of economic globalization, according to Guo The Chinese Institute for Reform and Development.
The Ministry of Commerce will redouble their efforts to help Hainan align with high -level international economic and commercial rules, strengthen institutional opening and promote new growth engines through targeted measures, Jiang said.
“Thanks to independent customs operations, the Hainan free trade port is positioning itself to become a major front door for the opening and innovation of the new era of China,” added Ms. Cai.
