As the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) reached its six-month milestone since launching full special customs operations, a provincial delegation concluded a three-day visit to Hong Kong, signing deepened cooperation agreements with major local chambers of commerce and promoting new policies.
Data released during the visit shows Hainan's foreign trade has surged. As of June 17, total goods imports and exports reached RMB 173.98 billion (approximately US$24 billion), a 54.6% year-on-year increase. Imports of zero-tariff goods hit RMB 2.645 billion, up 120%, generating tariff savings of RMB 440 million. A total of 172,100 new market entities were registered, a 61% rise, including 1,240 foreign-invested enterprises. Zero-tariff items now account for 74% of all tariff lines, benefiting over 12,000 market entities.
During the visit, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Hainan Provincial Committee signed separate MOUs with the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, Hong Kong and the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce. These MOUs establish a regular liaison mechanism for periodic exchange of economic and trade information and promote collaboration in professional services, green finance, the digital economy, supply chain management, and cultural tourism. Mutual enterprise service desks will be set up to provide policy and project consulting. The parties aim to leverage complementary strengths to help mainland enterprises access overseas markets via Hong Kong while facilitating Hong Kong companies' entry into the mainland through Hainan.
The delegation also held talks with the British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, discussing how British and American businesses can utilize Hainan's value-added processing tariff exemptions and multifunctional free trade accounts to position themselves in regional supply chains and cross-border investment. HSBC, De Beers, and other British firms are already active in Hainan, and the UK served as Guest of Honor at the 2025 China International Consumer Products Expo.
Industry analysts note that amid the shifting international trade landscape, Hainan is leveraging Hong Kong's "super-connector" role to accelerate integration with global capital and business networks, while offering Hong Kong's business community a policy testing ground for entering the mainland market.
