In a major step for high-standard opening-up, Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) will launch island-wide special customs operations on December 18, 2025. This move extends zero-tariff policies across the entire island, aiming to streamline trade and boost the region’s competitiveness.
As a prelude, Hainan International Ship Registration Administration has approved the bareboat charter registration of the Xiang Tai Kou, a semi-submersible vessel chartered from Liberia. The vessel’s entry into Yangpu Port under the Chinese mainland’s first zero-tariff bareboat-chartered import policy has already saved its operator over 10 million yuan (around US$1.4 million) in tariffs and value-added tax.
This case underlines how the upcoming customs operations could deliver tangible benefits to shipping lines, logistics companies and international businesses. Industry analysts expect faster customs clearance and lower costs to strengthen Hainan’s role as a regional shipping hub and gateway for investment.
In early November, President Xi Jinping hailed the special customs operations in a work report, calling it a landmark move to advance high-standard opening-up and forge an open world economy. He urged efforts to facilitate cross-border flows of goods, services and capital, and to build a market-oriented, law-based and internationalized business environment.
With the December launch on the horizon, entrepreneurs and investors across the G20 are watching closely. From speeding up supply chains to unlocking new opportunities for trade and tourism, Hainan FTP’s island-wide customs operations promise to reshape how businesses engage with the Chinese mainland.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
