Since March 2026, the General Administration of Customs of China has launched a nationwide cross-border trade facilitation campaign across 45 cities. In Guangdong, the number of pilot cities has increased to five, adding Zhuhai and Foshan to the existing Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Dongguan.
The new round of measures will introduce 29 facilitation policies to improve the quality and efficiency of foreign trade. These initiatives focus on advancing innovation in customs clearance supervision, optimizing regulatory services for new forms of foreign trade, enhancing cross-border logistics efficiency, strengthening smart port development, promoting alignment of standards and rules, and improving comprehensive services for enterprises.
Since 2018, related measures have significantly improved customs clearance efficiency in Guangdong. A one-time inspection and sealing model for cross-border cargo has been implemented, connecting Hong Kong and Macao with 21 cities across Guangdong, Hunan, and Fujian. A single data entry system for pre-declaration between the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong and Macao has also been realized, reducing declaration time by 50%.
Pilot programs for inspection in cross-border e-commerce retail export consolidation have been rolled out in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Huangpu customs districts, helping Guangdong maintain its top national ranking in cross-border e-commerce imports and exports. The comprehensive bonded zones in Yantian and Nansha have been developed into global distribution hubs, with international distribution volumes rising by 45% year-on-year. Enterprises have also benefited from preferential trade agreements such as RCEP, with tax and fee reductions exceeding 50 billion yuan. Guangdong has 2,079 AEO (Authorized Economic Operator) enterprises, accounting for about 30% of the national total and contributing nearly 50% of the province's foreign trade.
Reporter | Dai Bosi
Photo | Guangdong Sub-administration of GACC
