AGAINST the headwinds from COVID-19 resurgences and external complexity, China’s efforts are underway to stabilize and upgrade foreign trade, a key underpinning for the economy.

The latest data showed a feeble April growth of only 0.1% in the total exports and imports, indicating that the country’s foreign trade firms are under strain.

To help foreign trade navigate the trough, a guideline has been released by the State Council, specifying 13 targeted measures toward this end. It requires enhanced services for key foreign trade enterprises and unimpeded cargo logistics.

“Compared with its previous moves, China this time placed more emphasis on steadying the industrial and supply chains in the short term,” said Zhao Ping, a researcher with the Academy of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade.

“Unclogging the logistics is of paramount importance for foreign trade at present,” Zhao said. She noted that the recent sporadic COVID-19 cases have weighed on the foreign trade supply chain, restraining production efficiency and profitability.

To address the challenges, customs nationwide have tailored region-specific measures to streamline procedures and fast-track freight clearance.

In the Huangpu customs of Guangdong, for instance, all administrative restrictions have been scrapped, with a green channel where farm produce and fresh foods enjoy faster access and inspection.

While offering recipes for logistics, the guideline underscores the fostering of new growth drivers for foreign trade like cross-border e-commerce.

“Innovation is the only choice for foreign trade companies to handle challenges and make breakthroughs,” said Zhao, noting that cross-border e-commerce exemplifies the innovation-driven development of foreign trade.(Xinhua)