Forwarded by the General Office of the State Council
Ministry of Commerce and other departments concerned about expanding imports
Circular of The State Council on Promoting Balanced Development of Foreign Trade
GBF [2018] No. 53
People's governments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government, ministries and commissions of the State Council, and institutions directly under the State Council:
The Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Ecological Environment, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Health Commission, the People's Bank of China, the General Administration of Customs, the State Administration of Taxation, the General Administration of Market Supervision, the International Development Cooperation Agency, the Energy Administration, the Forestry and Grass Administration, the Foreign Exchange Administration, the Food and Drug Administration The Opinions of the Intellectual Property Office on Expanding Imports to Promote Balanced Development of Foreign Trade has been approved by the State Council and is hereby forwarded to you for careful implementation.
General Office of the State Council
July 2, 2018
Opinions on Expanding Imports to Promote Balanced Development of Foreign Trade
Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Ecological Environment, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Ministry of Health, People's Bank of China, General Administration of Customs, State Administration of Taxation, Market Supervision, International Development Cooperation Agency, Energy Bureau, Forestry and Grass Bureau, Foreign Exchange Bureau, Drug Administration, Intellectual Property Office
In order to implement the decision and deployment of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on promoting the strategy of mutually beneficial and win-win opening up, give better play to the positive role of imports in meeting the people's consumption upgrading needs, accelerating the innovation of systems and mechanisms, promoting the upgrading of economic structure, improving international competitiveness and other aspects, further expand imports while stabilizing exports, and promote the balanced development of foreign trade, To promote high-quality economic development and safeguard free trade, the following opinions are put forward:
1、 General requirements
（1） Guiding ideology. Fully implement the spirit of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, take Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as the guide, comprehensively promote the overall layout of "Five in One" and the strategic layout of "Four Comprehensions", adhere to the general tone of seeking progress while maintaining stability, firmly establish the new development concept, adhere to the supply side structural reform as the main line, and take the "Belt and Road" construction as the leadership, Focusing on improving the quality and efficiency of development, we should coordinate domestic and international markets and resources, accelerate the implementation of the innovation driven development strategy, actively expand imports while stabilizing exports, promote the quality improvement of the domestic supply system, meet the needs of the people to upgrade consumption, achieve excellent import and export, and promote the balanced development of foreign trade.
（2） Basic principles. First, we will continue to deepen reform and innovation. Deepen the reform of systems and mechanisms, create an innovative development environment, improve the level of trade facilitation through innovation in systems, models, business types and services, and expand imports to enhance the driving force for the sustainable development of foreign trade. Second, we should attach equal importance to imports and exports. On the basis of stabilizing the international market share of exports, we should give full play to the important role of imports in improving consumption, adjusting the structure, developing the economy and expanding opening up, and promote the balanced development of imports and exports. Third, adhere to overall planning and development. Adhere to the coordination of domestic and foreign needs and the combination of domestic and foreign trade, promote the interactive and coordinated development of trade in goods and services, utilization of foreign capital, foreign investment and foreign aid, follow the principle of marketization, treat domestic and foreign capital equally, and promote the balance of current account payments. Fourth, adhere to the win-win strategy. We will closely combine expanding imports with promoting the construction of the "Belt and Road" and accelerating the implementation of the free trade zone strategy, increase imports from relevant countries and regions, expand the integration of interests, and jointly promote the development of an open world economy.
2、 Optimizing the Import Structure to Promote the Upgrading of Production and Consumption
（3） Support the import of products related to people's livelihood. To meet the needs of consumption upgrading and supply quality improvement, support the import of consumer goods, medicine and rehabilitation, elderly care and other equipment closely related to people's lives. We will implement measures to reduce import tax rates on some commodities, reduce intermediate circulation links, clear up unreasonable price increases, and effectively improve people's living standards. We will improve the policy of duty-free stores and expand the import of duty-free goods. (The Ministry of Commerce, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Health Commission, the General Administration of Customs, the State Administration of Taxation, the General Administration of Market Supervision, the Foreign Exchange Administration, and the Food and Drug Administration shall be responsible according to their respective responsibilities)
（4） We will actively develop trade in services. Adjust the Catalogue of Services Encouraged to Import. Accelerate the innovative development of service trade, vigorously develop emerging service trade, and promote the import of productive services such as architectural design, commercial logistics, consulting services, research and development design, energy conservation and environmental protection, and environmental services. (The Ministry of Commerce, the Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Ecological Environment, the Ministry of Transport, the Health Commission, the People's Bank of China, the General Administration of Customs, and the Foreign Exchange Administration shall be responsible according to their respective responsibilities)
（5） Increase the import of technical equipment conducive to transformation and development. Determine key import fields based on the development of domestic industries, give full play to the role of the Catalogue of Encouraged Imported Technologies and Products, support the import of technologies, equipment and parts needed for the transformation and upgrading of domestic industries, and promote the introduction, digestion, absorption, and re innovation. Optimize the inspection mode of complete equipment that encourages import. (The National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Ecological Environment, the Ministry of Commerce, the General Administration of Customs, and the Energy Administration shall be responsible according to the division of responsibilities)
（6） Increase the import of agricultural products and resource products. Cooperate with the overall layout of domestic agricultural supply side reform and structural adjustment, moderately increase the import of domestic agricultural products in short supply and agricultural materials, agricultural machinery and other products that are conducive to improving agricultural competitiveness. We will accelerate the signing of protocols on access to inspection and quarantine of agricultural products with relevant countries, and promote access to inspection and quarantine of important food and agricultural products. Encourage the import of resource products in domestic demand. (The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Commerce, the General Administration of Customs, the General Administration of Market Supervision, the Energy Administration, etc. shall be responsible according to the division of responsibilities)
3、 Optimize international market layout
（7） We will strengthen international cooperation along the Belt and Road. Give full play to the role of multilateral and bilateral economic and trade cooperation mechanisms, take the countries related to the "Belt and Road" as the import sources of key development, strengthen strategic docking, moderately increase the import of high-quality products with characteristics that meet the needs of domestic consumption upgrading, and expand the scale of trade. (The Ministry of Commerce, the Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the General Administration of Customs, the General Administration of Market Supervision, the Energy Administration, etc. shall be responsible according to the division of responsibilities)
（8） Accelerate the implementation of the free trade zone strategy. We will continue to uphold the multilateral trading system and unswervingly support global trade liberalization. Actively promote the negotiation of free trade zones with relevant countries and regions, and accelerate the construction of a high standard free trade zone network based on the surrounding areas, radiating the "Belt and Road" and facing the world. We will guide enterprises to make full use of the preferential arrangements of the Free Trade Agreement and actively expand imports. We will increase aid for trade. (The Ministry of Commerce, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the General Administration of Customs, the State Administration of Taxation, the General Administration of Market Supervision, and the International Development Cooperation Agency shall be responsible according to the division of responsibilities)
（9） Implement preferential arrangements for goods and services imported from least developed countries. We will continue to implement our commitment to grant zero tariff treatment to 97% of the tariff items exported to China from the least developed countries that have established diplomatic relations with China. The least developed countries should continue to be granted preferential measures for market access to trade in services under the framework of the World Trade Organization. Provide assistance to the least developed countries within the framework of South South cooperation. (The Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Commerce, the International Development Cooperation Agency, etc. shall be responsible according to the division of responsibilities)
4、 Actively play the role of multi-channel promotion
（10） The China International Import Expo will be held well. Adhere to government guidance, market operation and enterprise operation, strive to build the China International Import Expo into an open cooperation platform for countries around the world to show their national development achievements and carry out international trade, promote the construction of the "Belt and Road", promote international public goods of economic globalization, practice new development concepts and promote a new round of landmark projects of high-level opening up. (led by the Ministry of Commerce)
（11） We will continue to give play to the role of foreign investment in promoting import expansion. Improve the management system related to foreign investment and optimize the domestic investment environment. Actively guide foreign investment in strategic emerging industries, high-tech industries, energy conservation and environmental protection, and further play the role of foreign investment in introducing advanced technology, management experience and optimizing the import structure. We will promote the transformation and upgrading of processing trade and its transfer to the central and western regions. (The Ministry of Commerce, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Ecological Environment, the People's Bank of China, the General Administration of Customs, the State Administration of Taxation, and the Foreign Exchange Bureau shall be responsible according to their respective responsibilities)
（12） Promote effective interaction between foreign trade and foreign investment. We will accelerate the signing of high-level investment agreements and improve the facilitation of outbound investment. Deepen international cooperation in energy resources development, agriculture and forestry, promote the construction of overseas economic and trade cooperation zones, and drive the import of related products. (The Ministry of Commerce, the Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the Energy Bureau, the Forestry and Grassland Bureau, etc. shall be responsible according to the division of responsibilities)
（13） Innovate the way of import trade. Accelerate the introduction of specific plans for supervision of cross-border e-commerce retail imports after the transition period, and adjust the positive list of cross-border e-commerce retail imports as a whole. Accelerate the replication and promotion of the mature experience and practices of the cross-border e-commerce comprehensive pilot zone, and study and expand the pilot scope. Accelerate the pilot program of parallel import of automobiles. Actively promote the pilot work of maintenance, R&D design and remanufacturing business. Support the development of border trade. (The Ministry of Commerce, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Ecological Environment, the People's Bank of China, the General Administration of Customs, the State Administration of Taxation, the State Administration of Market Supervision, etc. are responsible according to their respective responsibilities) V. Improve the conditions for trade liberalization and facilitation
（14） Vigorously cultivate import promotion platforms. Fully rely on customs special supervision areas, high-tech industrial development zones and other regions, constantly promote regulatory innovation and service innovation, and cultivate a batch of national import trade promotion innovation demonstration zones with obvious import trade characteristics, complete trade facilitation measures, and outstanding demonstration and driving role. (The Ministry of Commerce, the General Administration of Customs, the State Administration of Taxation, the State Administration of Market Supervision, etc. shall be responsible according to the division of responsibilities)
（15） Optimize the import customs clearance process. Accelerate the implementation of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement, promote the reform of the national customs clearance integration, and create a "single window" of international trade with international advanced level. Promote the customs pre ruling system, carry out the international mutual recognition of customs "certified operators" (AEO), promote the international mutual recognition of inspection reports and certification certificates, and improve the level of import trade facilitation. (The Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the General Administration of Customs, the General Administration of Market Supervision, etc. shall be responsible according to the division of responsibilities)
（16） Reduce the institutional cost of import. We will further standardize import non-tariff measures and improve the system of technical trade measures. Strengthen the construction of the supervision system after the cancellation or decentralization of import administrative approval. We will implement the national policy of reducing taxes and fees for enterprises, strictly implement the system of publicizing charging items, and clear up unreasonable charges in the import process. (The National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Commerce, the General Administration of Customs, the State Administration of Taxation, the State Administration of Market Supervision, etc. shall be responsible according to the division of responsibilities)
（17） Accelerate the improvement of the domestic business environment. We will strengthen the construction of the integrity system for foreign trade and the protection of intellectual property rights, and maintain fair competition. Promote the construction of the quality traceability system of imported consumer goods with the recall system of defective imported consumer goods as the core, and establish and improve the quality and safety complaint platform of imported consumer goods. We will crack down on counterfeit and shoddy goods and standardize and improve the domestic market order. (The Ministry of Commerce, the Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the General Administration of Customs, the General Administration of Market Supervision, the Intellectual Property Office, etc. shall be responsible according to the division of responsibilities)
All regions and departments should attach great importance to the expansion of import under the new situation. According to this opinion, according to the division of responsibilities, they should clarify their responsibilities, promptly formulate and introduce specific policies and measures, and promote the implementation of policies. The Ministry of Commerce should effectively play a leading role, strengthen guidance, supervise and inspect, and ensure that all policies and measures are implemented in place.
