According to a report in China Daily on February 5, 2026
China is stepping up efforts to deepen trade and economic cooperation with other APEC economies, focusing on cross-border e-commerce, green trade, and expanded market access for agricultural and high-tech products, according to senior customs officials.
Speaking at the First Senior Officials’ Meeting of APEC China 2026 in Guangzhou, Zhao Zenglian, Vice Minister of the General Administration of Customs (GAC), emphasized the importance of fostering a stable, transparent, and predictable business environment amid rising pressures on global supply chains.
“Customs authorities across APEC need to enhance regulatory transparency, improve policy communication, and streamline procedures to support smooth trade flows,” Zhao said.
Customs data show that China’s trade with APEC economies reached 26.29 trillion yuan ($3.79 trillion) in 2025, accounting for nearly 58% of the nation’s total foreign trade. Over the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021–25), cumulative trade with APEC members rose 39.4% from the previous five years.
China’s exports to emerging APEC markets, including ASEAN nations, Peru, and Mexico, maintained strong growth, reflecting a diversification of trade patterns. High-tech exports, led by electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries, and photovoltaic equipment, reached 4.63 trillion yuan, up 8.1% year-on-year.
At the company level, LM Wind Power Blades in Fuzhou reported exporting 17 batches of high-end wind turbine blades valued at 650 million yuan in 2025, representing year-on-year growth of nearly 90% in volume. CJ (Shenyang) Biotech, a subsidiary of South Korea’s CJ Group, exported feed additives to APEC economies such as Australia, Mexico, and Thailand, totaling 630 million yuan, up 45% from the previous year.
Industry leaders highlighted the growing demand for high-quality, specialized products across the region. “As offshore wind power and sustainable agriculture continue to expand in APEC markets, our focus is on tailoring products to meet local needs and building long-term partnerships,” said Feng Zili, GM of LM Wind Power Blades, and Xiao Chuanhong, head of CJ Biotech’s export unit.
Officials from Australia and New Zealand stressed that closer customs cooperation, digital connectivity, and the use of artificial intelligence to speed up border processing will be key to facilitating trade in the region.
With these initiatives, China aims to solidify its position as a reliable trade partner for APEC economies, promoting balanced, sustainable, and high-value economic growth amid an increasingly complex global trade landscape.