Hainan
China launches island-wide customs operations in Hainan free trade port
Raportoinut AI AI:n luoma kuva
China has launched island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port, allowing freer entry of overseas goods, expanded zero-tariff coverage, and more business-friendly measures. This move is widely seen as a landmark step in China's efforts to promote free trade and high-standard opening-up amid rising global protectionism. The first batch of zero-tariff petrochemical materials has cleared customs, signaling the start of a new phase.
An opinion piece argues that comparing Hainan to the next Hong Kong is flawed, as Hong Kong operates as a special administrative region under “one country, two systems” while Hainan does not. Author Liang Haiming suggests Hong Kong should leverage its special status to enhance Hainan’s experiment, securing its own indispensable role rather than viewing it as a rival.