In recent days, Nanjing has put into place the 2025 Nanjing Cross-border Trade Facilitation Special Action Plan (hereinafter referred to as the Action Plan), specifying 25 measures in five aspects, namely, enhancing port service capabilities, streamlining port clearance procedures, fostering new drivers for foreign trade, improving regulatory service models, and raising the quality and efficiency of cross-border services. The aim is to improve cross-border trade services, enhance the port business environment and strengthen the sense of fulfillment and satisfaction of market entities.

In terms of enhancing port service capabilities, the Action Plan proposes to enhance the openness of waterway ports and the international accessibility of airports, improve port logistics services and international mail distribution, and promote one-stop direct supervision at airports.

In terms of streamlining port clearance procedures, Nanjing will explore simplified customs clearance for imported herbal food, deepen coordination of multi-modal transport for import and export, improve the urban freight terminal model, promote new business models for international freight at airports, and implement the “rapid rail clearance” model.

In terms of fostering new drivers for foreign trade, the Action Plan suggests developing the new “Railway Express+” service model, advancing pilot policies for cross-border e-commerce, adopting a “one-stop service for one matter” approach for cross-border e-commerce, promoting green trade innovation, and supporting the expansion of bonded business models in comprehensive bonded areas.

In terms of improving regulatory service models, Nanjing will explore air transport of electric goods, improve the inspection and supervision model for exported lithium batteries, establish a “credit + smart” maritime supervision zone for containers with shipborne dangerous goods, and ensure quick customs clearance for cell and gene therapy drugs. The “white list” pilot project for imported biomedicines will be expanded with improved efficiency.

In terms of raising the quality and efficiency of cross-border services, measures will be taken to improve customs clearance experience for inbound and outbound customers, refine visa-free entry policies, strengthen policy supply for Authorized Economic Operators (AEO) enterprises, reduce the overall cost of cross-border logistics across the whole process, and implement “tolerant yet prudential” regulation.

Last April, 20 government agencies (and institutions) such as the General Administration of Customs of China announced the implementation of a five-month special action in 25 cities including Beijing, Shanghai, and Nanjing, and issued the Measures of the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China to Enhance Cross-border Trade Facilitation in 2025, composed of 29 measures across five areas like trade in goods, digital trade, and green trade. In response, Nanjing proposed another 16 distinctive measures tailored to its development realities and enterprises’ needs, resulting in a final set of 25 measures for the Nanjing Action Plan.

Moving forward, Nanjing will faithfully implement the requirements of the special action plan, and work to translate the measures of both the General Administration of Customs of China and the city itself into concrete outcomes and enhance Nanjing’s cross-border trade facilitation.