Pilot Free Trade Zones

Free trade zones (FTZs) are areas designated within the customs territory of a sovereign country or a region where customs regulations do not apply, where trade and investment policies more preferable than WTO rules apply, and where foreign goods can be shipped in and out free of tariffs. FTZs are actually duty-free zones. In the narrow sense, an FTZ is like an export processing area, where raw materials for processing export-oriented goods can be utilized free from import tariffs. In the broader sense, an FTZ can be a free port or an entrepot trade zone.

Building pilot FTZs is a strategic measure by the central authorities to further reform and opening up in the new era. The report to the 19th CPC National Congress in October 2017 announced to grant more powers to the pilot FTZs to conduct reform, and to explore the opening of free trade ports. In November 2018, the State Council issued a document on new measures supporting the pilot FTZs to further innovation and reform.

From September 2013 to November 2020, a total of 21 pilot FTZs were established across China, creating a new opening up configuration on all fronts. China's bold experiments in liberalizing and facilitating trade and investment, enhancing financial services to the real economy, and transforming the functions of the government have all yielded notable results, making a major contribution to world trade liberalization under the new conditions.

自由貿(mào)易試驗(yàn)區(qū)

自由貿(mào)易試驗(yàn)區(qū)，是指在貿(mào)易和投資等方面比世貿(mào)組織有關(guān)規(guī)定更加優(yōu)惠的貿(mào)易安排，在主權(quán)國家或地區(qū)的關(guān)境以內(nèi)，畫出特定的區(qū)域，準(zhǔn)許外國商品豁免關(guān)稅自由進(jìn)出，實(shí)質(zhì)上是采取自由港政策的關(guān)稅隔離區(qū)。自由貿(mào)易試驗(yàn)區(qū)，狹義僅指提供區(qū)內(nèi)加工出口所需原料等貨物的進(jìn)口豁免關(guān)稅的地區(qū)，類似出口加工區(qū)；廣義還包括自由港和轉(zhuǎn)口貿(mào)易區(qū)。

建設(shè)自由貿(mào)易試驗(yàn)區(qū)是中共中央、國務(wù)院在新形勢(shì)下全面深化改革和擴(kuò)大開放的戰(zhàn)略舉措。2017年10月，中共十九大報(bào)告提出，賦予自由貿(mào)易試驗(yàn)區(qū)更大改革自主權(quán)，探索建設(shè)自由貿(mào)易港。2018年11月，國務(wù)院印發(fā)《關(guān)于支持自由貿(mào)易試驗(yàn)區(qū)深化改革創(chuàng)新若干措施的通知》。自2013年9月至2020年11月，中國已經(jīng)分多批次批準(zhǔn)了21個(gè)自由貿(mào)易試驗(yàn)區(qū)，初步形成了東西南北中協(xié)調(diào)、陸海統(tǒng)籌的開放態(tài)勢(shì)，推動(dòng)形成全面開放新格局。中國在投資貿(mào)易自由化便利化、金融服務(wù)實(shí)體經(jīng)濟(jì)、政府職能轉(zhuǎn)變等領(lǐng)域進(jìn)行了大膽探索，取得了顯著成效，為新形勢(shì)下推動(dòng)世界貿(mào)易自由化作出重大貢獻(xiàn)。