SOURCE / ECONOMY
China launches island-wide special customs operations in Hainan FTP
By Xinhua Published: Dec 18, 2025 09:22 AM
An aerial drone photo shows a foreign vessel carrying petrochemical raw materials berthing at Yangpu Port in Danzhou, south China's Hainan Province, Dec. 18, 2025. China on Thursday launched island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP). (Xinhua/Guo Cheng)

An aerial drone photo shows a foreign vessel carrying petrochemical raw materials berthing at Yangpu Port in Danzhou, south China's Hainan Province, Dec. 18, 2025. China on Thursday launched island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP). (Xinhua/Guo Cheng)

China on Thursday launched island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP), the world's largest FTP by area, allowing freer entry of overseas goods, expanded zero-tariff coverage and more business-friendly measures.

The move is widely seen as a landmark step in China's ongoing efforts to promote free trade and expand high-standard opening-up at a time of rising protectionism worldwide.

Under the new arrangements, the tropical island of more than 30,000 square km has been designated as a special customs supervision zone. This marks a new stage in the development of the Hainan FTP, which enables freer flows of goods, capital, personnel and data, supported by zero tariffs, low tax rates and a simplified tax system.

A meeting to launch island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) is held in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, Dec. 18, 2025. China on Thursday launched island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan FTP. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu)

A meeting to launch island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) is held in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, Dec. 18, 2025. China on Thursday launched island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan FTP. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu)


 
A billboard for the launch of island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) is seen in Wenchang, south China's Hainan Province, Dec. 17, 2025. China on Thursday launched island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP). (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)

A billboard for the launch of island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) is seen in Wenchang, south China's Hainan Province, Dec. 17, 2025. China on Thursday launched island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP). (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)


 
An aerial drone photo shows a view of Qinglan Port, a port among both eight first-line and ten second-line customs ports of Hainan, in Wenchang, south China's Hainan Province, Dec. 17, 2025. China on Thursday launched island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP). The first line refers to Hainan's connection with overseas markets. Meanwhile, the second line refers to the customs boundary between Hainan and the mainland. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)

An aerial drone photo shows a view of Qinglan Port, a port among both eight "first-line" and ten "second-line" customs ports of Hainan, in Wenchang, south China's Hainan Province, Dec. 17, 2025. China on Thursday launched island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP). The "first line" refers to Hainan's connection with overseas markets. Meanwhile, the "second line" refers to the customs boundary between Hainan and the mainland. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)