The General Administration of Customs Discusses the Export Situation: "The Sky Won't Fall"

The State Council Information Office held a routine press conference on economic data for Q1 at 10:00 AM on April 14, inviting Wang Lingjun, Deputy Director of the General Administration of Customs, to introduce China's import and export situation in Q1 2025 and answer questions from reporters. General Administration of Customs: China will unwaveringly advance high-level opening-up and engage in mutually beneficial economic and trade cooperation with other countries. Wang Lingjun stated at the press conference held by the State Council Information Office that the recent tariff abuses by the US government have inevitably had a negative impact on global trade, including that between China and the US. China promptly implemented necessary countermeasures, not only to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests but also to uphold international trade rules and global fairness and justice. China will unwaveringly advance high-level opening-up and engage in mutually beneficial economic and trade cooperation with other countries. General Administration of Customs: China's import and export of electromechanical products in Q1 reached 5.29 trillion yuan, an increase of 7.7%. Wang Lingjun noted that the import and export of electromechanical products grew rapidly. In Q1, China's import and export of electromechanical products reached 5.29 trillion yuan, an increase of 7.7%. Among them, exports of household appliances, laptops, and electronic components grew relatively fast, while imports of parts for automatic data processing equipment, ships, and marine engineering equipment also saw significant growth. General Administration of Customs: Optimism about China remains a consensus among many foreign enterprises. Wang Lingjun stated at the press conference that China has fully lifted foreign investment restrictions in the manufacturing sector, accelerated green, digital, and intelligent transformation, and continuously improved its market-oriented, law-based, and internationalized first-class business environment. These measures will help foreign enterprises leverage their advantages in China and gain a competitive edge globally. On March 28, President Xi Jinping met with representatives of the international business community and delivered an important speech, greatly boosting foreign investment confidence. Recently, the 2025 Annual Meeting of the China Development Forum was held in Beijing, attracting official representatives from 86 multinational enterprises across 21 countries, with the number of first-time participants reaching a new high. Optimism about China remains a consensus among many foreign enterprises. General Administration of Customs: In Q1, exports and imports by AEO-certified private enterprises increased by 8.6% and 8.5%, respectively. Wang Lingjun stated that the customs authorities resolutely implement the "two unwavering principles," deepen reforms, innovate regulatory systems, and actively help private enterprises stabilize expectations, secure orders, and expand markets. Taking the AEO certification, known as the "green pass" for global trade, as an example, customs has continuously increased efforts to cultivate key private enterprises, enabling more enterprises to achieve faster customs clearance and lower trade costs. In just the first three months of Q1, the number of private enterprises with AEO certification increased by 116, reaching 2,670. In Q1, exports and imports by AEO-certified private enterprises increased by 8.6% and 8.5%, respectively, 1.6 and 5 percentage points higher than the overall growth rates of private enterprises' exports and imports. General Administration of Customs: In Q1, private enterprises' import and export of high-tech products hit a record high, approaching 1 trillion yuan. Wang Lingjun noted that in the foreign trade sector, private enterprises' import and export of high-tech products in Q1 hit a record high, approaching 1 trillion yuan, maintaining their position as the largest import and export entity. Among them, exports of industrial robots increased by 67.4%, high-end machine tools by 16.4%, and imports of high-end equipment by 25.6%, with surgical robots growing by 47.5%. What impact will US tariff hikes have on China? General Administration of Customs responds. Reporter: What impact will US tariff hikes have on China? Wang Lingjun responded: The recent tariff abuses by the US government, going against the trend, have not only been widely opposed by relevant countries but also criticized and opposed by international organizations. The WTO promptly issued a statement, stating that the US actions will have a significant impact on global trade and economic growth prospects, leading to a contraction in global merchandise trade, and called on member states to unite and engage in constructive dialogue through the WTO platform to seek cooperative solutions. China will work with all parties to uphold true multilateralism, jointly safeguard the multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core, and defend international fairness and justice. General Administration of Customs: The combined economic output of China and the EU exceeds one-third of the global total, and the two sides have broad common interests and vast cooperation potential in many areas. Wang Lingjun stated at the press conference that the combined economic output of China and the EU exceeds one-third of the global total. Both sides are advocates of economic globalization and trade liberalization, and staunch supporters and defenders of the WTO, with broad common interests and vast cooperation potential in many areas. In the face of increasing instability and uncertainty in the global economy, China and the EU have maintained close communication and cooperation, jointly safeguarding free and open trade and investment, and ensuring the stability and smoothness of global industrial and supply chains, which will inject more stability and certainty into both sides and the global economy. General Administration of Customs: In Q1, China-US bilateral trade continued to grow, with import and export volume reaching 1.11 trillion yuan. Wang Lingjun stated at the press conference that in Q1 of this year, despite the interference and impact of tariff abuses by the US government, China-US bilateral trade continued to grow, with import and export volume reaching 1.11 trillion yuan, an increase of 4%. The US has announced tariff abuses on all trading partners, including China, under various pretexts, which, as mentioned earlier, will inevitably have a negative impact on global trade, including that between China and the US. The so-called "reciprocal tariffs" by the US have overturned the existing international economic and trade order, placing US interests above the common interests of the international community, which is a typical act of tariff bullying, seriously violating WTO rules, severely damaging the rules-based multilateral trading system, and significantly impacting the stability of the global economic order. There are no winners in a trade war, and protectionism is no way out. The actions of the US government have already caused widespread opposition globally. China has resolutely taken countermeasures and will continue to work with all parties to oppose US tariff bullying and defend the multilateral trading system and economic globalization. We urge the US to immediately correct its wrong practices and resolve trade differences through equal dialogue based on mutual respect. General Administration of Customs: In Q1, the combined import and export volume of seven major provinces and cities—Guangdong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shanghai, Beijing, Shandong, and Fujian—reached 7.78 trillion yuan, continuing the growth trend. Wang Lingjun stated at the press conference that this year, in the face of a severe and complex external environment, major foreign trade provinces and cities have shouldered heavy responsibilities, leveraging their respective advantages and demonstrating strong support and driving roles. In Q1, the combined import and export volume of seven major provinces and cities—Guangdong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shanghai, Beijing, Shandong, and Fujian—reached 7.78 trillion yuan, continuing the growth trend, accounting for three-quarters of China's total import and export value, and playing a substantial role in supporting the economy. General Administration of Customs: The China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 negotiations have been substantively concluded, and the two sides will expand mutually beneficial cooperation in emerging areas such as the digital economy, green economy, and supply chain connectivity. Lv Daliang, spokesperson and Director of the Statistical Analysis Department of the General Administration of Customs, stated at the press conference that China and ASEAN are geographically close and culturally connected, with a long history of friendly exchanges. The China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 negotiations have been substantively concluded, and the two sides will expand mutually beneficial cooperation in emerging areas such as the digital economy, green economy, and supply chain connectivity, strengthen integration in standards and rules, and jointly promote trade facilitation and inclusive development. We believe that with the joint efforts of China and ASEAN countries, bilateral economic and trade cooperation will usher in new and greater development. General Administration of Customs: In Q1, China's exports of flat panel display modules, auto parts, and lithium batteries to ASEAN all grew by more than 20%. Lv Daliang stated at the press conference that China and ASEAN are jointly committed to regional economic integration, with closely linked industrial chains driving rapid growth in the import and export of upstream and downstream products. In Q1, manufacturing products accounted for 90.1% of China-ASEAN trade, with China's exports of flat panel display modules, auto parts, and lithium batteries to ASEAN all growing by more than 20%. China's imports of parts for automatic data processing equipment, printed circuits, and textile raw materials from ASEAN also maintained growth. General Administration of Customs: In Q1, China's exports to more than 170 countries and regions achieved growth. In Q1, China's export volume exceeded 6 trillion yuan, achieving a rapid growth of 6.9%, demonstrating strong resilience under pressure. Among them, exports to more than 170 countries and regions achieved growth. China's manufacturing sector is undergoing high-end, intelligent, and green transformation with strong momentum. Exports of ships and marine engineering equipment and special equipment increased by 10.8% and 16.2%, respectively. New energy products continue to play an important role in the global green transition, with exports of wind turbines, lithium batteries, and electric vehicles increasing by 43.2%, 18.8%, and 8.2%, respectively. General Administration of Customs: The sky will not fall; we will respond to external uncertainties with our own certainty. Lv Daliang stated at the press conference that currently, China's exports are indeed facing a complex and severe external situation, but "the sky will not fall." In recent years, China has actively built a diversified market and deepened industrial and supply chain cooperation with various parties, which not only empowers the development of the other side but also enhances our own resilience. At the same time, China's domestic demand market is vast and serves as an important rear base. We will unwaveringly focus on our own affairs and respond to external uncertainties with our own certainty. General Administration of Customs: China has huge potential for import growth, and China's large market remains a global opportunity. Lv Daliang stated at the press conference that China is the world's largest manufacturing country and the second-largest consumer market, with a complete industrial system and strong supporting capabilities. At the same time, we have a population of over 1.4 billion, including more than 400 million middle-income earners, and various consumption scenarios are flourishing. Whether from the perspective of industrial production or consumer demand, the market demand is enormous. In particular, China has always adhered to expanding high-level opening-up, orderly expanding independent and unilateral opening-up, and actively expanding imports, sharing development opportunities with the world. We have maintained our position as the world's second-largest importer for 16 consecutive years, with an average annual growth rate of 5.4%, and our global import share has steadily increased from 7.9% to 10.5%. Currently and in the future, China has huge potential for import growth, and China's large market remains a global opportunity. General Administration of Customs: This year, we will actively promote the "Smart Customs" partner program and deepen institutional cooperation with partner countries on customs inspection and quarantine. Lv Daliang stated at the press conference that the Belt and Road Initiative is currently the world's most extensive and largest international cooperation platform. The combined GDP of partner countries accounts for over 40% of the global total, and their share in global exports exceeds 50%, with increasing influence and voice in global governance. The Belt and Road, a path of prosperity, openness, and innovation, has effectively released the development potential of various countries and brought tangible benefits to the development and people's lives of relevant countries. This year, customs will continue to be guided by the eight actions for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, focus on partner countries, actively promote the "Smart Customs" partner program, and deepen institutional cooperation with partner countries on customs inspection and quarantine. We will continue to strongly support projects such as the China-Europe Railway Express, the New Western Land-Sea Corridor, and the "Maritime Silk Road," continuously advance customs clearance facilitation and security, and promote the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative. General Administration of Customs: Chinese customs detected Salmonella in imported US poultry meal and bone meal, and has legally suspended the export qualifications of three involved enterprises. Lv Daliang stated at the press conference that recently, Chinese customs detected Salmonella in imported US poultry meal and bone meal, and has legally suspended the export qualifications of three involved enterprises, also issuing a public announcement. The relevant non-compliance situation has been reported to the official authorities in the US. Among these three enterprises is the one you just mentioned. Chinese customs will continue to strictly strengthen the inspection and quarantine of imported products in accordance with laws and regulations to ensure import safety.