According to a statement made on Friday by the country’s customs regulator, China has maintained its position as the world’s largest trading nation in goods for the past eight years. Sun Meijun, Director-General of the General Administration of Customs (GAC), reported that the total value of China’s goods imports and exports surpassed 43 trillion yuan (approximately 6 trillion U.S. dollars) for the first time last year—a 5 percent year-on-year increase.
Sun Meijun added that in 2024 the GAC implemented measures aimed at further improving the business environment at ports and facilitating trade for enterprises throughout the year. Under these initiatives, tariff reductions and various tariff preference measures led to a total tax reduction or refund of 282.9 billion yuan. Additionally, during the same year, China authorized the import of 111 types of agricultural products from 62 countries and regions, 14 ports were newly opened or had their access enhanced, and 7 bonded logistics centers were established.