China Calls for Coordinated Customs Procedures
China plans to expand cooperation with other Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation economies on customs regulation. Priority areas include cross-border e-commerce, digital trade, environmentally sustainable shipments and simplified procedures for moving goods.
The initiative was presented by Sun Meijun, head of China’s General Administration of Customs, during the 2026 APEC Customs-Business Dialogue in Dalian, Liaoning Province.
The event forms part of the Third APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting and related meetings, taking place from August 17 to 28. Representatives of APEC’s 21 member economies are discussing digital trade, customs modernization, food security and supply-chain resilience.
Smart Ports and Artificial Intelligence
China proposed jointly developing smart ports and sharing more experience in green terminals and low-carbon logistics. Cooperation would cover digital cargo processing, automated risk analysis and data exchange between customs authorities.
Customs supervision must become smarter, more targeted and more efficient, Sun said
Artificial intelligence and big data can help identify suspicious transactions, verify documents and accelerate clearance for compliant traders. These technologies are particularly important for e-commerce, where customs authorities must process large volumes of small consignments.
The APEC Sub-Committee on Customs Procedures is already advancing initiatives covering artificial intelligence, digital transformation of cross-border e-commerce clearance and closer customs-business cooperation.
Trade Reaches $2.68 Trillion
According to data provided by China’s General Administration of Customs, China’s trade with other APEC economies reached 18.03 trillion yuan, or approximately $2.68 trillion, between January and July 2026.
The figure increased by 21% year on year, outpacing the growth of China’s overall goods trade during the same period. The data underline the importance of the Asia-Pacific region to Chinese manufacturers, importers and logistics companies.
Expanding trade is also placing additional pressure on ports, airports, customs terminals and electronic declaration systems. Coordinated digital standards could shorten clearance times and reduce administrative costs for businesses.
Customs Authorities Become Supply-Chain Partners
APEC Secretariat Executive Director Eduardo Pedrosa said customs agencies must evolve beyond their traditional role as regulators. They increasingly need to become strategic partners supporting businesses and the predictable movement of goods across borders.
For food supplies, industrial production and e-commerce, resilient customs procedures have become part of economic security. Clearance delays can disrupt production schedules, increase warehousing costs and slow deliveries to customers.
Chilean Agriculture Undersecretary Francesco Urzua also linked trade facilitation with the adoption of digital technologies. Artificial intelligence can improve risk management, cargo traceability and information exchange between government agencies and companies.
Businesses Reshape Global Supply Chains
FedEx President and CEO Raj Subramaniam described the transformation of global trade as an era of “re-globalization.” Companies are not abandoning international commerce but are diversifying suppliers and routes to make supply chains more resilient.
Modernized customs procedures must therefore allow goods to cross borders quickly while maintaining effective controls. Access to streamlined systems is particularly important for small and medium-sized companies that cannot absorb lengthy clearance and storage costs.
Chinese companies are already benefiting from deeper commercial links across APEC. Shenyang Southern Airline Import and Export Trading Co. imported 600 million yuan worth of aviation products from APEC economies during the first seven months of 2026. Shipments, including engine components, avionics and composite spare parts, increased by 28.3%.
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