The trade facilitation platform China (Shanghai) International Trade Single Window has been making continued efforts to improve the business environment for cross-border trade with the aim of building Shanghai into a nexus linking China's domestic and international markets.

During the first half of 2021, the single window handled customs declarations on 11.57 million consignments of goods and 182,000 ships, up 20.25 and 20.56 percent respectively year-on-year.

A number of concrete measures have been taken to provide convenient services to international traders. The Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce, who manages the single window, worked with 15 other government departments, including the Shanghai Municipal Tax Service, to issue a guideline facilitating export tax refund applications.

The platform also allows companies to make a reservation for their declarations in order to reduce their waiting and inquiry times.

In an effort to establish smart ports, an online information platform was launched to trace and supervise high-risk imported non-refrigerated goods.

Additionally, the single window has developed more than 10 financial products to help companies on a tight budget. Over the first six months of the year, it has provided 120 companies with 102 million yuan ($15.75 million) in funds, an increase of 124 percent year-on-year.