Hainan FTP's independent customs operation set to boost market vitality
海南自贸港独立海关运营将激发市场活力
The launch of an independent customs operation in the Hainan Free Trade Port by the end of this year will substantially reduce business costs, stimulate market vitality and boost free trade at the port, senior government officials said on Wednesday.
政府高级官员周三表示，今年年底在海南自由贸易港启动海关独立运作，将大幅降低企业成本，激发市场活力，促进港口自由贸易。
They also said the move will introduce comprehensive trade and tax liberalization measures aimed at attracting investment, expanding foreign trade and promoting service-oriented sectors and industrial development in the free trade port.
他们还表示，此举将引入全面的贸易和税收自由化措施，旨在吸引投资，扩大对外贸易，促进自由贸易港的服务型产业和工业发展。
Speaking at a news conference in Beijing, Wang Changlin, deputy head of the National Development and Reform Commission, said the policy will be implemented at the free trade port on Dec 18, following approval from the Communist Party of China Central Committee.
国家发展和改革委员会副主任王昌林在北京举行的新闻发布会上表示，经中共中央批准，该政策将于12月18日在自由贸易港实施。
The island-wide independent customs operation refers to the establishment of a designated area, under the special supervision of customs authorities, that covers the whole island of Hainan.
海关全岛独立运作是指在海关专门监管下设立一个覆盖海南全岛的指定区域。
Wang said that aside from certain goods entering the Chinese mainland from the Hainan FTP that require inspection, most goods, as well as all personnel, items and means of transportation, will remain under existing regulations.
王昌林表示，除部分从海南自贸港进入中国大陆的货物需接受检验外，大多数货物以及所有人员、物品和运输工具仍将遵守现有法规。
"Chinese residents traveling to the Hainan FTP for business or tourism will not need to obtain any additional documents," he said, adding that citizens of a total of 85 countries are currently eligible for visa-free entry into Hainan province.
他称：“前往海南FTP开展商务或旅游活动的中国居民无需办理额外的文件。”他补充道，目前共有85个国家的公民可免签进入海南省。
After independent customs operations begin, imported zero-tariff goods will be managed under a negative list system in the Hainan FTP, with the list of taxable imports replacing the previous list for zero-tariff items, said Liao Min, vice-minister of finance.
财政部副部长廖敏表示，独立海关开始运作后，海南FTP的进口零关税商品将按照负面清单制度进行管理，应税进口将清单取代此前的零关税商品清单。
The scope of zero-tariff goods will expand from the current 1,900 tariff lines to about 6,600, covering about 74 percent of all tariff lines — an increase of nearly 53 percentage points compared with the level before the policy's implementation, he said.
他介绍，零关税商品的范围将从目前的1900个关税细目扩大到约6600个，涵盖所有关税细目的约74%，与政策实施前的水平相比增加了近53个百分点。
Under the new policy, eight ports will operate as first-tier entry points, enabling expedited clearance for eligible imports, while 10 second-tier ports will handle the flow of goods entering the Chinese mainland.
根据新政策，8个港口将作为一级入境点，为符合条件的进口货物提供快速通关服务，10个二级港口将负责处理进入中国大陆的货物流通。
Products from encouraged industries in the Hainan FTP that undergo at least 30 percent value-added processing will be exempt from tariffs when entering the mainland.
海南FTP鼓励类产业的产品，经至少30%的增值加工后，进入内地时将免征关税。
Wang Lingjun, vice-minister of the General Administration of Customs, said that later this year, the threshold for enjoying the value-added policy will be lowered and its coverage broadened, better meeting the production needs of local manufacturers and fostering the development of industrial chains and clusters.
海关总署副部长王令浚表示，今年晚些时候将降低享受增值政策的门槛，拓宽覆盖范围，更好地满足本土厂商的生产需求，培育产业链和集群发展。
Amid rising global protectionism and anti-globalization trends, Yuan Xiaoming, assistant minister of commerce, said the Chinese government will focus next on enhancing the Hainan FTP's role as a gateway for high-level opening-up and aligning it with international trade rules through institutional innovation and pilot reforms.
在全球保护主义与逆全球化趋势抬头的背景下，商务部部长助理袁晓明表示，中国政府下一步将重点强化海南FTP作为高水平开放门户的作用，通过制度创新和试点改革，推动其与国际贸易规则接轨。
The Ministry of Commerce will support the Hainan FTP's development by establishing open platforms such as the island-wide pilot free trade zone and cross-border e-commerce zones, while introducing targeted policies to foster industrial clusters, enhance trade innovation and drive the growth of emerging industries and business models.
商务部将通过设立全岛自贸试验区、跨境电商区等开放平台支持海南FTP发展，同时出台有针对性的政策，培育产业集群，增强贸易创新，带动新兴产业和商业模式的增长。
Foreign companies are already responding to the new policies. Among them, Club Med, a France-based global travel and lifestyle brand, plans to open new resorts in the Lingshui Li autonomous county of the Hainan FTP as part of its upcoming expansion.
外国企业已对新政策做出反应。其中，总部位于法国的全球旅游与生活方式品牌Club Med（地中海俱乐部），计划在海南FTP的陵水黎族自治县开设新度假村，作为其即将开展的扩张计划的一部分。
"We are optimistic about China's growth potential, and the country has become our second-largest source market today," said Andrew Xu, Club Med's global deputy CEO and CEO for China.
Club Med全球副首席执行官兼中国区首席执行官Andrew Xu（徐秉瑸）表示：“我们看好中国的增长潜力，该国如今已成为我们的第二大客源市场。”
With the government continuing to refine its offshore duty-free shopping policy in the Hainan FTP to better meet diverse consumer needs, Joanne Crevoiserat, CEO of Tapestry Inc, a United States-based luxury goods group, said the company established its China travel retail headquarters in Hainan in 2022 and sees strong potential for long-term growth, expecting increased sales in the international tourism and shopping hub.
随着政府持续完善海南FTP的离岸免税购物政策，以更好地满足多样化的消费者需求，美国奢侈品集团Tapestry Inc（泰佩思琦）首席执行官Joanne Crevoiserat（桑德拉.克勒韦尔）表示，该公司将于2022年在海南设立中国旅游零售总部，看好这一国际旅游与购物枢纽的长期增长潜力，预计销售额将有所提升。
