Implementation Opinions of the Ministry of Commerce on Expanding Green Trade

November 06, 2025

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(Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China (Google translation)) ... In order to actively expand green trade, promote trade optimization and upgrading, help achieve carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals, and accelerate the construction of a strong trading nation, the following opinions are hereby put forward with the approval of the State Council.

I. Enhance the green and low-carbon development capabilities of foreign trade enterprises

(I) Enhance the awareness of green and low-carbon development among foreign trade enterprises. Strengthen training on green and low-carbon development concepts and policies for foreign trade enterprises, and publicize and interpret domestic and international laws, policies, and market dynamics. Publish best practice cases of green trade, promote best practices, and facilitate mutual learning among foreign trade enterprises. Guide leading foreign trade enterprises to integrate the concept of green and low-carbon development into all aspects of the production and supply chain, drive the green and low-carbon transformation of the foreign trade production and supply chain, and cultivate enterprises exporting green and low-carbon products.

(II) Promote green design and production by foreign trade enterprises. Support foreign trade enterprises in implementing green design and obtaining green product certification. Encourage foreign trade enterprises to actively use renewable energy and reduce carbon emissions of foreign trade products through equipment upgrades, process improvements, and the substitution of recycled raw materials. Encourage industry organizations and industrial internet platforms to provide green and low-carbon services for the foreign trade supply chain.

(III) Accelerate the green and low-carbon development of logistics. Promote the shift of long-distance transportation of bulk foreign trade goods and containers from road to rail and water. Guide foreign trade enterprises to use environmentally friendly packaging materials, reduce secondary packaging, and use logistics equipment and tools such as green-certified turnover boxes. Promote international mutual recognition and sharing of unitized container equipment. Support shipping companies in building green and low-carbon systems and promote the greening of the entire process of ship design, construction, and operation. Promote the use of transportation vehicles and ships using clean energy such as renewable synthetic fuels in foreign trade cargo transportation. Support the blending and mixing of domestically produced biodiesel and marine fuel oil in comprehensive bonded zones. Support qualified localities in carrying out bonded liquefied natural gas, biodiesel, green alcohol, and green ammonia bunkering services for international vessels.

(iv) Enhance the capacity of third-party green and low-carbon services. Establish a public service platform for green trade. Encourage industry organizations, professional institutions, and foreign trade enterprises to develop carbon data management systems. Encourage third-party institutions to improve their service capabilities and provide foreign trade enterprises with services such as product carbon footprint and organizational carbon footprint recognized by international green trade rules. Strengthen supervision and management of third-party institutions.

II. Expanding the import and export of green and low-carbon related products and technologies

(V) Enhance the international competitiveness of green and low-carbon related products. Guide foreign trade enterprises to develop and use products manufactured from renewable resources, recycled resources, biodegradable materials, and reusable waste. Develop trade in sustainable fuels such as green hydrogen. Explore the development of import and export of remanufactured products. Dynamically adjust the catalog of repair products in comprehensive bonded zones and support the development of bonded repair business with both ends outside the bonded area according to the catalog.

(vi) Grasp the international market demand for green trade. Overseas institutions and industry organizations should strengthen their research on overseas markets and explore the potential of the green and low-carbon market. Support foreign trade enterprises in utilizing the preferential arrangements of free trade agreements to expand trade cooperation in the green and low-carbon field and create new highlights in foreign economic and trade cooperation.

(vii) Enhance the greening level of exhibitions. Guide exhibition enterprises to establish the concept of green and low-carbon exhibition organization, give full play to the exemplary role of major exhibitions such as the China International Import Expo, the China Import and Export Fair, the China International Fair for Trade in Services, the Global Digital Trade Expo, and the China International Consumer Products Expo, and promote the establishment of special green and low-carbon exhibition areas and the holding of related themed activities in exhibitions with suitable conditions. Accelerate the formulation and revision of national and industry standards for green exhibition organization.

(viii) Safeguarding the import of resources, products, and services related to green and low-carbon development. Study and improve import standards and management measures for recycled resources. Leverage the role of local recycled resource trading centers to provide convenient services for enterprises importing recycled copper, aluminum, steel, and other resources. Revise the "Catalogue of Encouraged Imported Services" to guide enterprises to expand imports of energy-saving, environmental protection, and green and low-carbon services.

(ix) Leverage the driving role of foreign economic and trade cooperation. Deepen cooperation with countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative in the field of green and low-carbon development. Promote the green and low-carbon development of overseas economic and trade cooperation zones. Make good use of mechanisms such as the roundtable meeting for foreign-invested enterprises to strengthen policy support and services for foreign-invested enterprises in the green and low-carbon field. Enhance the international recognition of Chinese products, technologies, and standards.

III. Creating a Favorable International Environment for Green Trade Development

(X) Strengthen international exchanges and communication. Participate in global consultations and discussions on carbon-related trade and economic rules through the G20, BRICS, APEC, UNCTAD, and other organizations, and put forward Chinese initiatives. Strengthen exchanges on green and low-carbon development issues and promote the establishment of more inclusive and equitable international green trade rules. Actively participate in negotiations on green issues in high-standard trade agreements. Enhance the level of environmental chapters in free trade agreements. Actively promote China's achievements in green trade development to relevant foreign departments and industry organizations, overseas businesses, and other stakeholders.

(xi) Promote the formulation of relevant standards and international alignment and mutual recognition. Accelerate the establishment of a green and low-carbon product, technology, and service standard system that is in line with international standards. Conduct comparative analysis with international standards and transform a number of advanced and applicable green and low-carbon international standards into domestic standards. Support domestic institutions in participating in the formulation and revision of green and low-carbon related international standards. Accelerate the establishment of a green fuel certification system for shipping and promote international mutual recognition. Formulate and publish a number of carbon footprint accounting standards for key foreign trade products. Encourage industry organizations and key foreign trade enterprises to formulate or participate in the formulation of international standards for product carbon footprint accounting. Strengthen multilateral and bilateral cooperation on conformity assessment mutual recognition in the field of green and low-carbon technologies.

IV. Establish and improve a green trade support and guarantee system

(xii) Strengthen financial policy support. Financial institutions are encouraged to enrich their financial products and services based on foreign trade product carbon footprint accounting and carbon labeling certification results, provided that they comply with laws and regulations and that risks are controllable. Insurance institutions engaged in export credit insurance are encouraged to optimize underwriting and claims services in accordance with market-oriented and rule-of-law principles to further support the export of green and low-carbon related products.

(XIII) Accelerate the construction of a carbon footprint database for foreign trade products. Expedite the construction of a national carbon footprint factor database, publish and continuously update electricity carbon footprint factor data, and promote research on carbon footprint factors for other basic energy sources and raw materials, providing a foundation for foreign trade enterprises to calculate their product carbon footprints. Encourage qualified industries and enterprises to build industry-specific carbon footprint factor databases. Encourage international carbon footprint database providers to cooperate with Chinese carbon footprint database providers.

(XIV) Leverage the supporting role of carbon pricing mechanisms and green certificates and green electricity. Improve and refine carbon pricing mechanisms to guide foreign trade enterprises to make good use of them to expand international markets. Fully tap the potential of green electricity supply, expand the scale of green certificate and green electricity trading, and further meet the needs of foreign trade enterprises. Encourage regions with good resource conditions to increase the supply of green electricity to enterprises through direct renewable energy connections, and actively explore the local supply of renewable energy to export industrial parks. Strengthen communication on issues such as carbon costs, carbon footprint, and green certificates and green electricity, and guide trading partners to recognize China's carbon pricing mechanism and green certificates and green electricity.

(XV) Strengthening the talent pool. Support industry organizations, universities, and think tanks in strengthening research on green trade and cultivating relevant talents. Establish a green trade expert group and cultivate a team of application-oriented experts with an international perspective. Establish green trade working contact points with local governments, industries, think tanks, and enterprises to keep abreast of frontline practices.

(XVI) Strengthen monitoring, analysis, and policy support. Establish and continuously improve a green trade statistical monitoring and analysis system. Local commerce departments and agencies directly under the General Administration of Customs should strengthen cooperation in statistical analysis and explore relevant practices in green trade statistical monitoring and analysis. Guide industry organizations, think tanks, and third-party institutions to conduct in-depth research and further enrich and expand green trade measures by industry. Accelerate the improvement of the green trade policy and institutional system, strengthen coordination and synergy with industrial, technological, fiscal, and financial policies, and create a favorable environment for the development of green trade. READ MORE