China ranks first in the world in terms of imports and exports, and it is vaguely visible that its GDP and consumption scale have surpassed those of the United States. In recent years, TPP and TTIP have exposed the motivations of European and American countries to seize the right to formulate international rules. These two frameworks redefine regional tariff reduction and free trade, and unify regulations in a wide range of areas such as investment and intellectual property. In name, they strive for freedom for the technology industry and the “digital economy”. In essence, they are a new challenge faced by China after joining the WTO. round of trade barriers.
Strategically, on the one hand, we must closely watch the substantive progress of these dynamics, on the other hand, we must accelerate the construction of the national Belt and Road platform and build the country’s global supply chain strategy. High-standard free trade zones are an inevitable choice. At present, there are two types of global free trade areas, including free trade areas (FTA, Free Trade Area) formed by signing free trade agreements between countries in accordance with relevant WTO rules. Free trade areas established by unilaterally granting special preferential tax and regulatory policies within a country. Trade Zone (FTZ, Free Trade Zone), and customs isolation zone with free port policy.
According to statistics from the World Free Zone Organization WFZO, there are currently more than 1,200 free trade zones around the world, of which 15 developed countries have established about 450, accounting for 35%; 67 developing countries have established a total of nearly 800. , accounting for 65%. The types are mainly divided into four categories: re-export distribution type, trade-oriented type, export processing type, and bonded warehousing type.
FTA is a free trade area established by two or more countries or regions, such as the North American Free Trade Area NAFTA, the Free Trade Area of the Americas FTAA, the ASEAN Free Trade Area AFTA, the China-European Free Trade Area CEFTA, the China-Japan-Korea Free Trade Area Area, multilateral free trade area among CIS member states, new South Asia free trade area, etc.
The Free Trade Zone FTA has important reference significance for cross-border e-commerce import and export and overseas warehouse location selection. For example, with the signing of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement, 85.4% of the products in the export trade between China and Australia will Achieving zero tariffs, 97% of tax items from Australia have achieved “zero tariffs”. After the tax reduction transition period, exports to Australia will achieve 100% zero tariff, and Australian imported milk powder, health products, seafood, etc., which are popular cross-border, will benefit.
The free trade zone is in a key position in the world’s entire international logistics system, promoting economic integration and regional logistics development. The development of the free trade zone is to gradually establish China’s core hub position in the global supply chain and realize the development of international commerce. The integration of capital flow, information flow, logistics and business flow improves the dominance and influence of the regional economy.
The domestic free trade zone FTZ supports the development of cross-border e-commerce, which is mainly reflected in simplified customs clearance procedures and innovative operating models. Since the Shanghai Free Trade Zone was officially launched in September 2013, my country has four pilot free trade zones: Shanghai, Guangdong, Tianjin, and Fujian. Most of the innovative contents have common characteristics, mainly the transformation of government functions, the promotion of trade facilitation, and intellectual property rights. Protection, innovation in the financial field, preferential support, and simplification of service procedures.
Shanghai Free Trade Zone: Carrying more space for reform, Lujiazui, Jinqiao and Zhangjiang are all in Pudong New Area, carrying out institutional innovation in larger areas and strengthening Shanghai’s status as a global trade center. Guangdong Free Trade Zone: Promote the liberalization of service trade in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, accelerate the integration of economic and trade rules with international standards, and cover Guangzhou Nansha New Area.
Shenzhen Qianhai Shekou and Zhuhai Hengqin New Area. Tianjin Free Trade Zone: Serving the integration of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei, it is located in Tianjin Binhai New Area, covering Tianjin Port, Tianjin Airport, Binhai New Area and other areas, focusing on the development of financial leasing industry, high-end manufacturing and modern service industries. Fujian Free Trade Zone: In-depth cooperation with Taiwan and the construction of the Maritime Silk Road. The three parks are located in Fuzhou, Xiamen and Pingtan Comprehensive Experimental Zone.
Since then, the country has successively established 7 new free trade pilot zones in Liaoning, Zhejiang, Henan, Hubei, Chongqing, Sichuan, and Shaanxi. According to statistics, the customs clearance efficiency of the free trade zone has been significantly improved. The average customs clearance time for imports is reduced by 41.3% compared with outside the zone, and the average customs clearance time for exports is reduced by 36.8% compared with outside the zone.
International brands and cross-border e-commerce companies have settled in the zone. The Shanghai Free Trade Zone has the advantages of conveniently setting up procurement centers, bonded warehouses and offshore finance. Amazon has set up an international trade headquarters in the Shanghai Free Trade Zone to enable direct mailing of U.S. goods and bonded import into China. The free trade zone focuses on opening up the service industry. The service entities involve ports, airports, trade, manufacturing and warehousing and other physical industries. These industries constitute an important industrial chain in the free trade zone. The supply chain with the free trade zone as the core will also promote international Global expansion of logistics.
The “Several Opinions on Accelerating the Implementation of Free Trade Zone Strategies” promulgated by the State Council is a planning document for the construction of free trade zones. The goal is to extend from the “peripheral free trade zones” to the “Belt and Road” market and gradually form a ” The “Global Free Trade Zone Network” facilitates customs clearance and liberalizes trade in services, which has improved the logistics environment. Using the “Going Out” strategy to promote logistics transformation and model innovation will also significantly improve our global logistics performance level and approach the level of moderately developed countries. .
The logistics index reflects the actual logistics operation level of these countries and has important reference significance for cross-border e-commerce in import and export trade. As an auxiliary industry that serves commercial activities, the logistics industry has high requirements for the efficiency of commodity flow. However, the current small-scale, fragmented, and extensive development of logistics enterprises has greatly restricted the improvement of the efficiency of the logistics industry. In terms of space, most logistics companies can only provide logistics services in segments, separate operations, and separate management. The interest chain is lengthened and efficiency is reduced, which is not conducive to the formation of a global logistics system and a cross-regional logistics network.