Several Measures of Shanxi Province to Accelerate the Integration of Domestic and Foreign Trade

To implement the requirements of the “Notice of the General Office of the State Council on Issuing the ‘Several Measures for Accelerating the Integrated Development of Domestic and Foreign Trade’” (State Council General Office Document [2023] No. 42), promote the integrated development of domestic and foreign trade, enhance the capacity of market entities to coordinate the utilization of both domestic and international markets and resources, and achieve higher-level opening-up and higher-quality development, the following measures are formulated in light of the actual conditions of our province.

I. Accelerating the Alignment of Standards and Certification for Domestic and International Trade

(1) Promote the Alignment of Domestic and International Trade Standards. Accelerate the adoption of advanced international standards and continuously improve the consistency between international and domestic standards. Support enterprises, public institutions, social organizations, and research institutes in participating in international standardization activities, and encourage them to take the lead in or participate in the formulation of more international standards. Strengthen the promotion and dissemination of standards in key areas such as bulk commodities, overseas contracting projects, smart connected vehicles, e-commerce, and payment settlement, to help enterprises reduce the institutional costs associated with market transformation.Fully leverage the role of the Standard Information Platform for Countries Participating in the Belt and Road Initiative and the Technical Guidelines for Export Commodities. Actively participate in standard research for key countries along the Belt and Road and RCEP member states to strengthen standard conversion and alignment. (Responsibility lies with the Provincial Market Regulation Bureau, Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, Provincial Department of Commerce, and Taiyuan Customs according to their respective duties)

(2) Promote the integration of inspection and certification for domestic and foreign trade. Encourage inspection, testing, and certification bodies to provide “one-stop” services. Strengthen policy outreach regarding the green channel for mandatory product certification of goods exported and then sold domestically. Support eligible inspection and testing bodies in applying for inclusion in the list of recognized bodies. Conduct outreach on policies regarding the acceptance of third-party inspection and quarantine results and the international online verification of electronic inspection and quarantine certificates, guide enterprises in standardized declaration procedures, and enhance customs clearance efficiency.Establish and improve incentive mechanisms for the certification and management of green foods and organic products. Continue to carry out certification and post-certification supervision of green foods and organic agricultural products, further enhance the credibility of certification and the quality and safety standards of agricultural products in both domestic and international trade, and continuously strengthen the market competitiveness of agricultural products. (Responsibility lies with the Provincial Market Regulation Bureau, Taiyuan Customs, and the Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs according to their respective duties)

(3) Promote the integration of domestic and foreign trade regulation. Conduct investigations and rectifications of typical issues that hinder the development of a unified national market or violate the negative list for market access, to facilitate the smooth flow of resources and factors between domestic and foreign trade. Strengthen fair competition reviews, promptly eliminate policies containing local protectionism, market segmentation, or designated transactions that hinder the unified national market and fair competition, and promote fair competition among domestic and foreign-invested enterprises.(Responsibility lies with the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, the Provincial Market Regulation Bureau, the Provincial Department of Commerce, and municipal people’s governments according to their respective duties) Explore the establishment of an emergency mechanism for ensuring the supply of medicines in short supply in our province, and prioritize customs declaration, inspection, and release procedures for medical devices that meet market access requirements to ensure the timely and effective supply of medicines and medical devices in emergency situations.(Responsibility lies with the Provincial Health Commission, Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, Provincial Drug Administration, Provincial Department of Commerce, Taiyuan Customs, and municipal people’s governments according to their respective duties) Actively support the import of food and pharmaceutical substances used in food processing. Support the sale within the province of imported exhibits for which regulatory mechanisms are mature and domestic demand is strong. (Responsibility lies with Taiyuan Customs and the Provincial Department of Commerce according to their respective duties)

(4) Promote the “same production lines, same standards, and same quality” (hereinafter referred to as “Three Same”) for domestic and export products. Encourage enterprises to develop “Three Same” products through self-declaration or third-party evaluation. Give priority to customs supervision measures, such as on-site factory inspections, for “Three Same” enterprises and products during export.Support industry associations, certification bodies, and relevant enterprises in establishing a “Three-Same” Promotion Alliance. Encourage enterprises to connect with the “Three-Same” public information service platform, which provides business training and technical services on operational qualifications, quality standards, inspection and testing, certification and accreditation, risk warnings, and policy interpretation. Provincial-level special funds for technological transformation will provide selective support to eligible enterprises’ technological transformation projects.(Responsibility lies with the Provincial Market Regulation Bureau, Provincial Department of Commerce, Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, Taiyuan Customs, Provincial Department of Finance, and municipal people’s governments in accordance with their respective duties)

II. Promoting Two-Way Integration of Domestic and Foreign Trade Market Channels

(5) Promote the expansion of domestic markets by foreign trade enterprises. Encourage foreign trade enterprises to engage in in-depth cooperation with retail chains and e-commerce platforms through joint product development and direct order procurement.Launch the “Five-Pronged Initiative” to promote high-quality foreign trade consumer goods into e-commerce platforms, shopping malls and supermarkets, commercial districts and pedestrian streets, factory outlet stores, and commodity trading markets. Support foreign trade enterprises in participating in domestic trade fairs to actively expand the domestic market. Encourage foreign trade transformation and upgrading bases to register trademarks and geographical indications, build a group of regional cluster brands, and guide export enterprises to develop their own brands and expand domestic sales networks. (Responsibility lies with the Provincial Department of Commerce and municipal people’s governments according to their respective duties)

(6) Promote the expansion of domestic trade enterprises into international markets. Extensively conduct training and publicity on foreign trade policies and practices, and encourage eligible large-scale enterprises in commerce, manufacturing, and agricultural product processing to utilize international exhibition platforms and cross-border e-commerce platforms to tap into international markets. Support domestic trade enterprises in obtaining international certifications to secure access to international markets. Encourage enterprises to undergo digital transformation, establish resilient supply chains based on digital technologies, and explore new business models such as on-demand design and customized production to precisely meet international market demands.Support traditional enterprises, foreign trade enterprises, cross-border e-commerce firms, and logistics companies in jointly building and sharing overseas warehouses through various means to enhance their comprehensive service capabilities. (Responsibility lies with the Provincial Department of Commerce, the Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, and municipal people’s governments according to their respective duties)

(7) Leverage the role of key trade promotion platforms. Organize enterprises to participate in major exhibitions such as the China Import and Export Fair, the China International Import Expo, and the China International Consumer Goods Expo to facilitate supply-demand matching between enterprises and overseas buyers and suppliers.Vigorously enhance the branding, specialization, and internationalization of exhibitions such as the China (Taiyuan) International Energy Industry Expo, the Shanxi Cultural Industry Expo, the China Xinghua Village International Wine Expo, the Shanxi (Yuncheng) International Fruit Trade Expo, the Shanxi·Shuozhou Ceramic Products Import and Export Fair, and the Shanxi·Huairen Lamb Meat Trade Fair, to facilitate the integration of domestic and international markets.Promote the upgrading of the Mauritius-Shanxi Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone in Africa, and encourage domestic and foreign trade enterprises to conduct cross-border operations using the cooperation zone as a platform. (Led by the Provincial Department of Commerce)

III. Creating an Optimal Environment for the Integrated Development of Domestic and Foreign Trade

(8) Strengthen intellectual property protection. Increase efforts to protect the trademark and patent rights of foreign trade enterprises and provide guidance on handling intellectual property disputes. Launch special campaigns to combat infringement and counterfeiting, focusing on sectors such as apparel, footwear, home furnishings, and household appliances. Guide and supervise e-commerce platforms within the province to fulfill their legal obligations regarding the verification and registration of information for operators on their platforms, establish and improve consumer rights protection and intellectual property agreements and rules, and enhance the platforms’ compliance standards.(Responsibility lies with the Provincial Market Regulation Bureau, the Provincial Department of Commerce, and municipal people’s governments according to their respective duties)

(9) Improve and refine the credit system for domestic and foreign trade. Accelerate the implementation of the information technology project to expand the capacity and enhance the application of the provincial credit information sharing platform software system. Promote the collection, disclosure, and sharing of credit information for domestic and foreign trade enterprises to help them secure greater credit support.Encourage domestic and international trade enterprises to utilize credit tools such as credit reports, insurance, and factoring to mitigate market sales risks. (Responsibility lies with the Provincial Development and Reform Commission and the Provincial Department of Commerce according to their respective duties) Promote the development of credit systems by e-commerce platforms and industrial clusters, and establish a number of integrity-based commercial districts, markets, and pedestrian streets to foster a credit environment conducive to the smooth flow of domestic and international markets. (Responsibility lies with the Provincial Department of Commerce and municipal people’s governments according to their respective duties)

(10) Establish new logistics channels for domestic and international trade. Promote the quality and efficiency of China-Europe (Central Asia) freight trains to facilitate the entry of the province’s renowned, high-quality, and specialty products into international markets. Guide enterprises to strengthen cooperation with shipping companies such as Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), Maersk, and COSCO Shipping, and continuously optimize the layout of inland container return points within the province.Accelerate the third-phase renovation and expansion of Taiyuan Airport, launch and expand chartered international flights along the “Belt and Road” route, and increase flight frequencies to East and Southeast Asia. Optimize the international route network, improve belly cargo capacity utilization, ensure the smooth operation of existing all-cargo flights to the United States, launch additional international routes at appropriate times, and accelerate the formation of an air cargo transport model featuring the coordinated development of “belly cargo + all-cargo flights.”Support the development of fruit, chilled products, and frozen meat distribution centers at the Taiyuan Wuxu Comprehensive Bonded Zone and the Datong International Land Port. Promote the upgrade, expansion, and operational launch of the Taiyuan International Mail Exchange Office. Complete the construction of the China (Shanxi) International Trade “Single Window” (local version). (Responsibility lies with the Provincial Department of Transportation, the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, China Railway Taiyuan Bureau Group, the Provincial Department of Commerce, the Provincial Postal Administration, Shanxi Aviation Industry Group, and municipal people’s governments according to their respective duties)

(11) Strengthen the development of talent pools for domestic and international trade. Enhance the development of disciplines related to the integration of domestic and international trade; support qualified schools in offering majors such as cross-border e-commerce, international economics and trade, and commercial logistics; and encourage relevant vocational schools to collaborate with commerce and distribution enterprises to jointly build teaching resources. Support the conduct of vocational skills training for domestic and international trade, and establish talent exchange and matching platforms that integrate online and offline channels as well as domestic and international trade. (Responsibility lies with the Provincial Department of Education, the Provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Security, the Provincial Department of Commerce, and the municipal people’s governments according to their respective duties)

IV. Accelerating the Coordinated Development of Domestic and International Trade in Key Sectors

(12) Reproduce and promote a batch of pilot experiences. Actively benchmark against pilot regions for domestic and international trade integration, accelerate the improvement of institutional frameworks for such integration, promote the alignment of domestic and international trade rules and systems, and reproduce and promote a batch of innovative experiences and typical cases. Fully leverage the exemplary and leading roles of the Shanxi Comprehensive Reform and Transformation Demonstration Zone, the Wusu Comprehensive Bonded Zone, the Cross-border E-commerce Comprehensive Pilot Zone, and international cooperation parks, and encourage greater efforts in reform and innovation related to domestic and international trade integration.(Responsibility lies with the Provincial Department of Commerce, the Administrative Committee of the Shanxi Comprehensive Reform and Transformation Demonstration Zone, and the People’s Governments of Taiyuan, Datong, and Yuncheng, in accordance with their respective duties)

(13) Cultivate enterprises engaged in the integration of domestic and international trade. Launch the “Frontrunner” initiative to foster and expand a group of internationally competitive enterprises that prioritize both domestic and international trade. This will drive upstream and downstream enterprises to deeply integrate into international industrial, value, and supply chains, thereby creating new advantages in international cooperation and competition.(The Provincial Department of Commerce and the Provincial State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission shall be responsible in accordance with their respective duties) Actively promote the construction of high-quality agricultural international trade bases, encourage more agricultural product export enterprises to successfully apply for designation as such bases, and further expand the province’s agricultural enterprises engaged in the integration of domestic and international trade. (Led by the Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs) Continue to promote the development of the Cross-Strait (Taiyuan) Industrial Park, explore new pathways for cross-strait economic integration, and build new high-grounds and platforms for economic and trade cooperation with Taiwan.(Responsibility lies with the Provincial Taiwan Affairs Office, the Provincial Department of Commerce, and the Taiyuan Municipal People’s Government according to their respective duties) Improve the working mechanisms for serving enterprises from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and overseas Chinese communities, and deepen two-way exchanges and study tours between Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan. Increase support and relief efforts for enterprises affected by unreasonable foreign trade restrictions, and support their integrated domestic and international trade operations. (Led by the Provincial Department of Commerce)

(14) Deepen the coordinated development of industrial clusters both domestically and internationally. Launch a campaign to enhance the quality and efficiency of cross-border e-commerce comprehensive pilot zones, and accelerate efforts to improve the quality and efficiency of the pilot zones in Taiyuan, Datong, and Yuncheng. Explore the “cross-border e-commerce + industrial belt” model, establish cross-border e-commerce incubation and demonstration zones, consolidate the foundation for cross-border e-commerce development, and cultivate cross-border e-commerce entities.(Responsibility lies with the Provincial Department of Commerce and the People’s Governments of Taiyuan, Datong, and Yuncheng according to their respective duties) Promote the revitalization and upgrading of the manufacturing sector, strengthen the role of the “chain leader system” and specialized towns in driving industrial chains, improve support policies for high-quality manufacturing development, actively attract the transfer of manufacturing industries from eastern regions, encourage the concentrated development of transferred industries, promote the transformation and upgrading of traditional competitive industries and the integrated cluster development of emerging industries, continuously optimize service mechanisms for foreign-invested enterprises and projects, and enhance the level of integrated domestic and international trade development.(Responsibility lies with the Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, the Provincial Department of Commerce, and the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, in accordance with their respective duties)

(15) Strengthen the development of independent brands for both domestic and foreign trade. Implement the “Thousand Enterprises, Hundred Cities” trademark and brand value enhancement initiative; strengthen guidance on standard formulation and certification implementation; and steadily advance the development of the “Shanxi Fine Products” public brand. Enhance the international recognition of specialty products such as Qi County glass, Shuozhou ceramics, and Xinzhou flanges; and expand the influence of regional brands such as Shanxi aged vinegar, Shanxi mixed grains, and Yuncheng fruits.Cultivate model enterprises with intellectual property advantages, and guide and support enterprises in effectively utilizing intellectual property to enhance brand competitiveness. (Led by the Provincial Market Regulation Bureau) Actively guide foreign trade enterprises to transition from contract manufacturing to research and development, design, creating their own brands, and acquiring well-known brands. Support distribution enterprises and platform enterprises in developing their own brands and engaging in brand cooperation with manufacturing enterprises.Promote the inheritance and innovation of “time-honored brands,” intensify overseas promotional efforts, and encourage their entry into international markets. Establish new consumer brand incubation bases, cultivate leading brands, and open factory-direct discount stores to enhance the vitality of brand incubation and innovation in both domestic and international trade sectors. (Led by the Provincial Department of Commerce)

V. Strengthening Fiscal and Financial Support

(16) Strengthen fiscal policy support. In compliance with WTO rules, effectively coordinate and utilize central and provincial special funds for foreign trade and economic development to actively support the integrated development of domestic and foreign trade. Actively seek local government special bonds, and include infrastructure projects such as national logistics hubs—provided they meet the specified investment sectors and project criteria—within the scope of government special bond support to facilitate the distribution and transportation of goods for both domestic and foreign trade. (Responsibility lies with the Provincial Department of Finance, the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, the Provincial Department of Commerce, and municipal people’s governments according to their respective duties)

(17) Fully leverage the role of credit insurance. Utilize the guiding role of special funds for foreign trade and economic development to increase support for export credit insurance. Provide premium subsidies for export trade insurance projects of eligible general enterprises and interest subsidies for financing under such projects, as well as interest subsidies for financing under export trade insurance for small and micro enterprises. Fully leverage the risk protection and credit enhancement functions of export credit insurance to create a favorable policy environment for promoting the stable development of foreign trade.Encourage foreign trade enterprises to purchase domestic trade credit insurance. Encourage insurance institutions, in compliance with laws and regulations, to increase underwriting capacity for domestic trade credit insurance and export credit insurance through co-insurance and reinsurance, thereby expanding insurance coverage and improving the rate of limit fulfillment. Strengthen coordinated support across various insurance products for enterprises operating in both domestic and international markets, promote collaboration between banks and insurance companies, and ensure the smooth flow of corporate capital. Facilitate the processing of policy-backed financing, leverage the financing functions of insurance policies, and improve claims settlement efficiency.(Responsibility lies with the Provincial Department of Finance, the Shanxi Regulatory Bureau of the National Financial Supervisory Administration, the Provincial Department of Commerce, the Shanxi Branch of China Export & Credit Insurance Corporation, and the municipal people’s governments in accordance with their respective duties)

(18) Strengthen financial support. Relying on the Provincial Credit Information Sharing Platform, establish the Shanxi provincial node of the National Financing Credit Service Platform to enhance the sharing and application of credit information and strengthen financial institutions’ service capabilities for domestic and foreign trade enterprises. Make full use of the National Industry-Finance Cooperation Platform and encourage enterprises to apply for medium- and long-term loans for the manufacturing sector and technology upgrading-oriented plans.Encourage financial institutions, subject to prudent assessment, to engage in foreign trade accounts receivable financing and related business innovations; based on effective control of supply chain logistics, capital flows, and information flows, as well as the improvement of transaction structures, provide domestic and international supply chain financial services extending to upstream and downstream entities centered on core enterprises. Optimize cross-border financial services and guide enterprises to adopt a risk-neutral approach.(The Provincial Development and Reform Commission, the Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, the Shanxi Regulatory Bureau of the National Financial Supervisory Administration, the People’s Bank of China Shanxi Branch, the Shanxi Sub-bureau of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, the Provincial Department of Commerce, and municipal people’s governments shall be responsible according to their respective duties) Promote pilot policies for cross-border financing facilitation. Support more qualified payment institutions and banks in providing cross-border settlement services for new business models such as cross-border e-commerce. (The People’s Bank of China Shanxi Branch and the Shanxi Sub-bureau of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange shall be responsible according to their respective duties)

VI. Support Measures

(19) Strengthen organizational guarantees. Municipal people’s governments shall improve working mechanisms, introduce supporting policies tailored to local conditions, and vigorously promote the integrated development of domestic and international trade in their respective regions. Relevant departments shall actively benchmark against the advanced practices of pilot regions for domestic-international trade integration, refine work measures based on actual conditions, and strengthen implementation. The Provincial Department of Commerce shall enhance overall coordination and supervision, promptly collaborate with relevant departments to strengthen situation analysis and policy implementation, and ensure the steady advancement of domestic-international trade integration.

(20) Leverage the Role of Industry Organizations. Guide relevant industry associations, chambers of commerce, and other organizations to actively mobilize enterprises to engage in integrated domestic and international trade operations. Encourage industry associations to research and formulate standards for relevant products and services, and support qualified industry associations in enhancing their service capabilities to provide professional services for the integrated domestic and international trade development of member enterprises.

(21) Strengthen publicity and guidance. We must thoroughly identify and promote effective experiences and practices in the integrated development of domestic and international trade, utilize various media channels to publicize this initiative, provide clear interpretations of relevant policies, and report on related activities, thereby fostering a favorable social atmosphere that supports Shanxi enterprises and products in expanding into domestic and international markets.