2026 China Foreign Trade Logistics Policy and Regulation Compilation

Foreword

From 2025 to 2026, China's foreign trade logistics sector is set to experience a series of major policy changes. The General Administration of Customs, together with 20 other departments, has introduced 25 cross-border trade facilitation measures to be replicated and promoted nationwide. These cover smooth logistics, support for new business formats, smart supervision, and more. This article systematically outlines the latest key policies for the reference of foreign trade and logistics professionals.

I. 25 Cross-Border Trade Facilitation Measures (Nationwide Promotion in January 2026)

In January 2026, the General Administration of Customs announced the nationwide replication and promotion of 25 cross-border trade facilitation measures, covering five major areas:

1. Promoting Efficient and Smooth Cross-Border Logistics (7 items)

• Integrated Multimodal Transport: Promote cooperation between the "Maritime Silk Road" and cross-border land transport corridors such as the China-Europe Railway Express and the New Western Land-Sea Corridor.
• Container Multimodal Transport: Promote "one-stop booking, one document to the end, one settlement, and one container to the end" for import and export containers to reduce logistics costs.
• Cross-border Train Support: Support the construction of China-Europe Railway Express assembly centers, operational volumes surpassed 20,000 trains for the first time in 2025.
• International Road Transport (TIR): Support the development of TIR international road transport.
• Air Logistics Optimization: Support the development of the "Air Silk Road," expanding "air-to-air transshipment" and "air-road intermodal transport."
• Pre-positioned Cargo Stations: Optimize air cargo station operations and support the construction of pre-positioned cargo stations.
• Airside Direct Connection: Promote the "Airside direct connection" supervision model at air ports.

2. Supporting the Development of New Business Models (5 items)

• Cross-border E-commerce Overseas Warehouses: Cancel the requirement for filing cross-border e-commerce export overseas warehouse enterprises, implementing a "tax refund upon departure, accounting after sale" policy.
• Cross-customs District Returns: Fully promote the cross-customs-district return supervision model for cross-border e-commerce retail exports.
• Green Technologies: Simplify air transport requirements for goods containing batteries, such as lithium batteries.
• Reciprocal Recognition of E-authentication: Carry out the cross-border mutual recognition of business electronic authentications and electronic signatures.
• Facilitation for Medicinal and Edible Products: Promote convenient customs clearance for imported "medicinal and edible" products.

3. Optimizing Supervision of Special Goods (4 items)

• Facilitation of Exports of "New Three" Products: Optimize inspection and supervision models for exported lithium batteries, promote the coordinated supervision for "sub-box shipping and export of new energy vehicle power batteries".
• Automotive Industry Support: Support expanding export volumes of electric passenger vehicles, lithium batteries, etc.
• "Two-in-One" Certification for Imported Motor Vehicles: Expand the pilot scope.
• Green Channels for Agricultural Products: Create more "green channels" for quick customs clearance of agricultural products at ports.

4. Enhancing Smart Supervision Services (4 items)

• Smart Customs: Launch of the global "Smart Customs" online cooperation platform, with 146 WCO member customs administrations joining.
• AI Document Review: The "Yongzhi" AI document review agent in Ningbo has improved customs clearance efficiency by 30%.
• AI Smart Image Review: Average identification time compressed to 12 seconds, inspection time reduced to as low as 4 minutes.
• Single Window: The international trade "Single Window" system has achieved electronic data exchange with 15 countries.

5. Enhancing Practical Benefits for Enterprises and People (5 items)

• AEO Credit Financing: Helped over 3,200 highly creditworthy AEO enterprises obtain financing support.
• Tax Default Fine Waiver: Waived 20.961 million yuan in tax default fines for eligible entities.
• Accelerated Export Tax Rebates: Optimized export tax rebate processes and shortened the rebate cycle.

II. Foreign Trade Data Overview for 2025

• In 2025, China's total foreign trade (import and export) value reached 45.47 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 3.8%.
• Cross-border e-commerce imports and exports reached 2.75 trillion yuan, up 69.7% from 2020.
• The operational volume of China-Europe Railway Express surpassed 20,000 trains for the first time.
• The General Administration of Customs has cumulatively introduced 115 facilitation measures.

III. Impact and Recommendations for Import and Export Enterprises

1. Monitor the GAC official website: Stay informed of detailed notices and implementation schedules from various local customs offices.
2. Utilize AEO policies: Applying for AEO certification can provide customs clearance facilitation and financing support.
3. Optimize logistics solutions: Multimodal transport policies are beneficial; consider re-evaluating your combinations of transportation modes.
4. Cross-border e-commerce compliance: Leverage the overseas warehouse "tax refund upon departure" policy to optimize capital flow.

Bofeng Logistics specializes in international sea freight, domestic sea freight, Hong Kong/Macau logistics services, and value-added logistics services. For any logistics needs, feel free to contact us.

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