The 22nd China-ASEAN Expo and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit was recently held, marking the 15th anniversary of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area. As one of China’s provinces with highest degree of openness, Jiangsu continues to deepen economic and trade ties with the ASEAN, with trade volume growing steadily. According to Nanjing Customs, Jiangsu’s trade with the ASEAN reached RMB 694.07 billion from January to August, up 22.4% year on year.

Consumer goods such as cosmetics and daily-care products are gaining popularity in the ASEAN market. On September 16, Suzhou Industrial Park Customs issued 15 China-ASEAN Free Trade Certificate of Origin (FORM E) to Suzhou Shangmei International Cosmetics Co., Ltd. for exported goods worth RMB 4.5702 million. Specializing in skincare, shampoos, and hair dyes, the company has been cultivating the ASEAN market for years. “In the first eight months, FORM E has saved us about RMB 18.72 million in taxes in destination countries, which helped boost the competitiveness of our hair-care brands across the ASEAN,” said Wang Juan, the firm’s import-export manager. This year, orders from Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and other ASEAN countries have surged. From January to August, Suzhou Industrial Park Customs issued 10,980 FORM E to local enterprises, covering goods worth around RMB 4.24 billion.

Electronics made in Jiangsu are also powering exports to ASEAN. “This year our mobile-phone, earphone, and smartwatch components entered large-scale production, and exports to Vietnam and other ASEAN countries have grown rapidly. From January to August, exports to the ASEAN exceeded RMB 240 million, nearly five times higher than a year earlier,” said Xiao Lu, customs manager at Luxshare Precision Manufacturing (Changshu) Co., Ltd.