There are new developments in the foreign trade circle every day, and April 13th can be called the day with the largest amount of information recently.
From sudden international geopolitical conflicts and the implementation of heavy tariff policies, to cross-border e-commerce benefits and free trade port investment events, each one is closely related to the costs, orders, and markets of export companies.
Today, I will give you a comprehensive overview of today’s core foreign trade hot spots, and explain the impact and response strategies.
Breaking!
The United States blocks Iranian ports tonight, causing global shipping and oil prices to fluctuate violently
Starting from 22:00 on April 13, Beijing time (10:00 ET), the U.S. Central Command officially implemented a comprehensive blockade of all maritime traffic in and out of Iranian ports, covering all Iranian ports in the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
This sudden move directly detonated the market.
Oil prices have soared, with Brent and WTI crude oil futures rising nearly 10% and standing above US$100/barrel; shipping costs have soared, with war insurance rates on the Middle East route skyrocketing from 0.2%-0.3% before the conflict to 1%-7.5%, and freight rates on some routes have increased more than 10 times; routes have been drastically changed, and the Asia-Europe and Asia-Eastern United States routes have been forced to bypass the Cape of Good Hope, adding 10 to 14 days to the voyage, and a large number of container ships have been delayed and stranded.
For foreign traders, industries such as chemicals, plastics, textiles, and auto parts that rely on Middle East routes/crude oil raw materials have experienced an overall increase in export costs, logistics timeliness, and order fulfillment risks.
It is recommended that companies that have recently shipped goods to the Middle East and Europe confirm the latest freight rates, insurance and shipping schedules with freight forwarders as soon as possible, and communicate with customers about cost fluctuations and delivery delay risks.
It will be implemented nationwide from April 1st!
Cross-border e-commerce returns across customs zones, sellers reduce costs by 40%
The General Administration of Customs officially announced: Starting from April 1, cross-border e-commerce retail exports (9610 model) returns across customs zones will be implemented nationwide.
Its core benefits are many. Returns do not need to be returned to the original export customs area and can be processed at any port across the country; the return time is shortened from 40 days to 7 days, and the timeliness is increased by 80%; returns in the original condition within 6 months are exempt from import taxes and can withdraw from export duties; pilot data shows that the return cost of enterprises is directly reduced by about 40%.
Applicable people are Amazon FBM, AliExpress, TikTok Shop, Shopee and other 9610 small package direct mail sellers (FBA is not applicable at the moment).
This is the most practical cost reduction policy for cross-border e-commerce this year. It is necessary to coordinate with the customs to launch the new model as soon as possible.
Photovoltaic/lithium battery export tax rebates are canceled/lowered, and new energy export costs are reconstructed
Starting from April 1, the new policies of the Ministry of Finance and the State Administration of Taxation will be officially implemented.
For the entire photovoltaic industry chain (249 categories of products), the export tax rebate for silicon materials, silicon wafers, cells, modules, etc. will be directly reduced from 9% to 0%, and the cost will increase by 9%; for lithium batteries/energy storage (22 categories of products), the tax rebate will be 9% → 6% in 2026, and will be completely canceled from January 1, 2027.
The policy aims to promote new energy from “policy subsidies” to “market independence”, with small and medium-sized photovoltaic factories and low-price and high-volume companies having the greatest impact.
It is recommended that relevant companies adjust overseas quotations, accelerate the transformation of high value-added products, and focus on exploring non-European and American markets such as the “Belt and Road Initiative” and the Middle East.
Congo (Brazzaville) CADEPA certificate of origin takes effect!
The China-Africa trade dividend has officially arrived
The China-Congo (Brazzaville) CADEPA Agreement (Early Harvest Arrangement) has been officially implemented on April 1.
Congo (Brazzaville) has significantly reduced/zero tariffs on Chinese machinery and equipment, chemicals, auto parts and other products. The CADEPA certificate of origin is the only official preferential certificate. Single batches with a value of ≤1,000 US dollars can be exempted from submission, but split declarations are strictly prohibited. Congo (Brazzaville) is the first country in Africa to sign such an early harvest arrangement with China, and the policy dividends are unique.
Before shipping, be sure to apply for the CADEPA certificate of origin in advance to help customers save tariffs, improve quotation competitiveness, and make customs clearance smoother.
Note: Congo (Brazzaville) only, not to be confused with Congo (Kinshasa)!
Hainan Free Trade Port Global Investment Conference opens, and customs closure dividends are fully released
On April 13-16, the Hainan Free Trade Port Global Industry Investment Conference opened grandly in Haikou.
1,399 companies participated in the conference (277 foreign-invested companies, 82 Fortune 500 companies); 263 high-quality projects were launched, focusing on biomedicine, digital economy, deep-sea technology, and commercial aerospace; the core theme was a new starting point for customs clearance, new investment opportunities, and the concentrated realization of the dividends of zero tariffs, low tax rates, and simplified tax systems.
Hainan is becoming a new lowland for cross-border e-commerce, entrepot trade, and bonded processing.
Companies engaged in Southeast Asia and global transit trade can focus on Hainan’s customs closure policy of “liberalizing the first line and controlling the second line” to lay out new trade channels.
Summary of today’s foreign trade: opportunities amidst crises, seize the dividends
Today’s foreign trade market presents a pattern of “crisis and dividends coexist”.
In terms of risks, the Iranian blockade has led to an increase in shipping/oil prices, and the cancellation of photovoltaic tax rebates has increased costs; in terms of opportunities, cross-customs return returns have reduced costs for cross-border e-commerce, the entry into force of CADEPA has caused the Congo-Brazzaville market to explode, and Hainan investment has brought a new trading platform.
Action suggestions
- Middle East/European routes: Lock freight, buy insurance, and synchronize risks with customers;
- Cross-border e-commerce: Immediately open returns across customs areas, revitalize inventory, reduce costs and increase efficiency;
- China-Africa trade: fully promote CADEPA certificate of origin, seize the opportunity in the Congo (Brazzaville) market;
- New energy exports: adjust quotations, transform to high value-added, and open up emerging markets.
Foreign traders are dealing with changes every day, but every policy implementation and every crisis is an opportunity to reshuffle the cards.
Only by keeping up with hot spots and responding accurately can we stabilize orders and expand our advantages in a volatile market!
