On November 18, 2025, Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) countdown begins as island-wide special customs operations prepare to launch on December 18. This move marks a key step in China’s high-standard opening-up strategy.
Just weeks before the official launch, the Hainan International Ship Registration Administration completed the bareboat charter registration for the Xiang Tai Kou, a semi-submersible vessel. Chartered from Liberia, this is China’s first zero-tariff bareboat-chartered import vessel to join the Yangpu Port fleet. Thanks to Hainan’s zero-tariff policies, the vessel is exempt from import tariffs and value-added tax on charter rents, cutting costs by over 10 million yuan (around $1.4 million). 🚢💰
This real-world success story shows how the upcoming island-wide special customs operations will accelerate high-standard opening-up and deliver tangible benefits to businesses in the FTP. Companies can look forward to smoother cross-border flows of goods and services, boosting trade efficiency and cutting expenses.
During an early November work report, Chinese President Xi Jinping praised the special customs operations as a landmark move to expand high-standard opening-up and promote an open world economy. He emphasized the need to facilitate cross-border flows of factors of production and to build a first-rate business environment that is market-oriented, law-based and internationalized.
With just one month to go, the Hainan FTP is poised to become a model for modern trade facilitation, attracting entrepreneurs, investors and global partners eager to tap into its pioneering policies. Stay tuned as Dec 18 approaches for the next chapter in Hainan’s trade revolution! 🌍✨
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
