Cross-border e-commerce parcels are loaded onto a sorting line at the express handling center of Shanghai Pudong International Airport on March 4. [Photo/IC]

On June 27, Shanghai unveiled 31 new measures across five areas to boost cross-border trade via its ports by 2025. The policies, issued by the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce and nine other departments, will be piloted through August.

I. Streamlining regulations

- Shanghai will continue to develop the pilot program that allows qualified bonded oil storage tanks, used to fuel international voyages, to function both as bonded warehouses and as export supervision warehouses. This will reduce storage costs for businesses and promote the bonded fuel oil bunkering services at Shanghai ports.

- The city will streamline import procedures for motor vehicles by integrating certification and inspection documentation, enhancing the efficiency of whole-vehicle imports at Shanghai's ports.

- The authorities will update the approved list of onboard pharmaceuticals and medical devices for cruise ships, assigning dedicated codes for easier customs clearance.

- A round-the-clock and appointment-based inspection service will be introduced for fresh agricultural products entering Shanghai.

- Products declared for food use will be processed as standard food imports, eliminating the need for a pharmaceutical import certificate. Similarly, goods declared for medicinal use will be handled according to the regulations for medicinal materials.

- The use of electronic certificates for vessels and crew will be expanded across port entry/exit procedures and port state control inspections, shortening certificate issuance and verification times.

II. Strengthening logistics networks and hub capabilities

- Shanghai will launch pilot programs allowing certain international transshipment goods, such as small appliances with batteries, alcoholic beverages, and perfumes, to enter for consolidated transshipment.

- Shanghai will enhance its role as a global aviation hub by implementing measures like direct pickup at the airport apron for imported goods.

- Industries including bonded R&D, bonded maintenance, and specialized cold-chain logistics will receive support in areas such as the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone, Lin-gang Special Area, Hongqiao International Central Business District, and comprehensive bonded zones.

- A direct airside transfer model will be introduced to streamline cargo movement from domestic locations to international zones at Shanghai airports, significantly improving air cargo export efficiency by eliminating unnecessary steps.

III. Supporting new trade models and emerging business formats

- A pilot program will allow the import of used key auto parts for R&D and testing, ensuring compliance with safety standards.

- Cross-border e-commerce will be further supported through differentiated sorting of goods and integrated operations across customs clearance models 9610, 9710, and 9810.

- The return supervision pilot will be expanded to allow goods to be returned across different customs districts. Sensitive exports, such as cosmetics and battery-powered items, will be supported via sea freight.

IV. Developing smart ports

- Shanghai will launch pilot programs to explore the cross-border mutual recognition of electronic authentication and signatures, promoting interoperability across platforms and regions between domestic systems and trusted overseas corporate identity authentication institutions.

- The International Trade Single Window platform will be enhanced to provide real-time vessel schedule data, improve access to information sharing across Shanghai ports, and offer online access to customs laboratory testing status and border inspection data.

V. Enhancing enterprise services to improve efficiency

- Financial institutions will be encouraged to increase support for companies holding authorized economic operator status in areas such as credit financing, loan guarantees, and export credit insurance. Companies actively piloting or using cross-border e-invoicing and other digital trade documents will be prioritized for inclusion in Shanghai's curated support programs for key enterprises.

- Shanghai will help enterprises maximize free trade agreement benefits by enhancing the RCEP Enterprise Service Center with tools for querying preferential tariffs on imports and exports.

- A new round of international trade fairs will offer up to 70 percent reimbursement on booth fees for Shanghai-based companies participating in selected overseas exhibitions.

Source: Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce