News Center

Breaking News | 90% of Goods to Enjoy Zero Tariffs! China's 29th Free Trade Partner Has Arrived

On October 17, China's Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao and Serbia's Minister of Domestic and Foreign Trade Momirović signed the Free Trade Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Serbia. This marks China's first FTA with a Central and Eastern European country, its 22nd signed FTA, and makes Serbia China's 29th free trade partner. The FTA features a high level of liberalization, with both sides eliminating tariffs on 90% of tariff lines, over 60% of which will take effect immediately upon entry into force. The agreement covers a broad range of products, with Serbia granting zero tariffs on Chinese automobiles, photovoltaic modules, lithium batteries, communication equipment, and machinery, while China grants zero tariffs on Serbian generators, electric motors, tires, beef, wine, and nuts. Both sides have also agreed to deepen customs cooperation and introduce practical trade facilitation measures. Bilateral trade reached RMB 19.8 billion in the first eight months of 2023, up 21.9% year-on-year.

Attention! New Foreign Trade Regulations for October Are Here!

A number of new foreign trade regulations have recently come into effect both domestically and internationally, covering import licensing, customs clearance facilitation, trade remedies, product quarantine, and business operations. Key domestic changes include: the GAC's further standardization of bonded cargo leasing supervision effective October 1; new version of the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card to be issued from December 1; continued exemption of additional tariffs on 124 categories of US goods; official implementation of China-South Africa Customs AEO mutual recognition from September 1; extension of tax policies for cross-border e-commerce export returns; and full resumption of international cruise transport. On the international front, the EU officially began the transitional phase of its Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) on October 1, while the US extended tariff exemptions on 352 categories of Chinese imports and 77 pandemic-related goods through December 31. Companies and individuals engaged in relevant trade should stay alert to these latest developments.

Infographic | Jan–Aug Imports and Exports Remain Stable, August Exports Up 3.9% Month-on-Month

Good News | SCC Group's Green & Smart Logistics Path to Carbon Neutrality Project Recognized as a 2023 "Green Belt and Road" Classic Case for Asia

The 2023 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) opened in Beijing on September 2, with the 2nd Asian Carbon Neutrality Industry Development Forum held concurrently. The forum focused on 'Carbon Neutrality Green Empowerment for High-Quality Belt and Road Development,' bringing together experts and leaders to discuss the vision for dual-carbon development. Co-hosted by the China-Asia Economic Development Association and the Global Alliance for Trade in Services, the event attracted approximately 200 participants. During the forum, SCC Group's Ms. Liu Xiaojie participated in the Asian Carbon Reduction Projects sub-forum, sharing the Group's green supply chain carbon neutrality initiatives and specific actions taken in partnership with leading new energy battery enterprises toward achieving the 2035 carbon neutrality value chain. SCC Group's four-year development of its flagship product — the China-Europe and Central Asia round-trip door-to-door international road transport service utilizing both northern and southern Silk Road logistics corridors — was recognized. With an annual transport volume exceeding 2,000 vehicle trips and over 40,000 tons of cargo, this innovative service has been hailed as the 'Fourth Channel of International Transport.' The project was selected as a 2023 'Green Belt and Road' Classic Case for co-building a green Asia.

Developing Through Ecology | Partnering for Low-Carbon Green & Smart Logistics

On August 24, SCC Group was invited by CATL to attend the official opening ceremony of China's first heavy-duty truck battery swap corridor — the Shenyang–Haikou Expressway Ningde–Xiamen Trunk Line — witnessing a milestone moment for the road freight industry's entry into the zero-carbon era. The Ningde–Xiamen line spans 680 kilometers with four battery swap stations along the route, meeting the simultaneous battery swap and energy replenishment needs of no fewer than 200 heavy-duty trucks. This pioneering practice in green and efficient development of trunk logistics is set to accelerate the road freight industry's transition into the zero-carbon era. CATL's Qiji battery swap solution provides a one-stop chassis battery swap solution for heavy-duty trucks, enabling safe, fast, and low-cost full-power dispatch. Green logistics represents a critical development direction for modern logistics enterprises, and SCC Group, staying true to its mission of green and smart logistics, follows industry pioneers to jointly promote the construction of green supply chain platforms and vigorously advance dual-carbon targets.