On June 9, 2026, at the Baiyun Airport port in Guangzhou, a batch of ornamental fish from Egypt had just completed customs clearance and was about to be sent to the quarantine site. Thanks to China's zero tariff measures on 53 African countries with diplomatic relations, this batch of ornamental fish, which previously required a 10% tariff, is now exempt from taxes, resulting in a significant reduction in import costs for enterprises. We are very confident in continuing to expand imports from Africa, "said the company leader. The journey of a small ornamental fish reflects the changes that have quietly taken place in China's foreign trade in a complex environment - bolder openness, smarter products, and broader markets.

Dual directional acceleration of import and export shows resilience

Upon closer examination of the data released by the General Administration of Customs on June 9, 2026, the acceleration of both exports and imports constitutes the core support for this round of stable growth. In the first five months of 2026, China's exports reached 11.91 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 11.8%, an acceleration of 0.5 percentage points compared to the first four months; Among them, the export of high-tech and high value-added electromechanical products reached 7.58 trillion yuan, an increase of 18.4%, accounting for 63.6% of the total export value. The export of green products such as lithium batteries and wind turbines increased by about 40%. The import side is also strong, with a cumulative import of 8.77 trillion yuan in the first five months of 2026, a year-on-year increase of 20.5%. In May 2026, imports increased by 21.5%, with a year-on-year increase of over 20% for three consecutive months; Driven by the demand of the manufacturing industry, the import of mechanical and electrical products increased by 25.3%, and the import of intermediate goods in the manufacturing industry increased by nearly 40%.

The latest issue of the "Goods Trade Barometer" released by the World Trade Organization shows that the global goods trade sentiment index is currently 101.7, slightly lower than 102.3 in January 2026, indicating that the growth of goods trade may begin to slow down. The OECD report points out that the evolving conflicts in the Middle East pose a test of global economic resilience. In this context, China's manufacturing PMI in May 2026 was 50.0%, with high-tech manufacturing and equipment manufacturing PMI consistently above the critical point. The upward trend in foreign trade data was interpreted by foreign media as an acceleration of the trade engine, making China a stable anchor and driving force for global trade.

Structure towards novelty and optimization stimulates vitality

Entering the sixth generation market in Yiwu, Zhejiang - the Global Digital Trade Center, emerging products such as AI glasses that can record videos, mountain climbing machinery exoskeletons, and real-time translation screens in multiple languages are attracting overseas buyers. Previously, the main focus was on exporting primary products and processing trade. Nowadays, the proportion of intermediate and capital goods exports has increased, and many foreign trade enterprises rely on research and development investment to cope with rising costs and fierce competition.

In the first five months of 2026, the export of mechanical and electrical products increased the overall export growth rate by 11.1 percentage points, with exports of automobiles, electrical equipment, and ships increasing by 45.5%, 24.7%, and 22.5%, respectively. More notably, the total import and export of artificial intelligence related products such as electronic components, computer parts, and fiber optic cables reached 4.12 trillion yuan, a significant increase of 52.4% year-on-year, showing a monthly expansion trend. In Suzhou, Jiangsu, a robotics company has been independently researching and producing from basic technology to complete machines, updating its products for about half a year and sending out more than 30 container overseas orders per day. From the continuous popularity of new energy vehicles, lithium batteries, and photovoltaic products, to the rapid growth of artificial intelligence, robots, and innovative drugs, China is advancing from the world's factory to the factory of the factory, and the depth of industrial chain integration is constantly deepening.

Open up and expand circles to unleash growth potential

Zero tariffs on ornamental fish are just a microcosm. With the establishment of unified quarantine requirements for dried chili peppers and coffee beans in African countries and the opening of green channels, China's imports and exports to African countries reached 114 trillion yuan in the first five months of 2026, surpassing 1 trillion yuan for the first time in history, a year-on-year increase of 18.2%; In May 2026, the import of high-quality fruits and aquatic products from Africa increased by over 30% compared to the previous month.

Not only in Africa, in the first five months of 2026, China's imports and exports to ASEAN, the European Union, Latin America and other regions all grew at a double-digit rate. China's imports and exports to countries jointly building the the Belt and Road totaled 10.57 trillion yuan, an increase of 13.6%, accounting for more than half of the total foreign trade value. Many companies have shifted their focus from Europe and America to synchronously exploring emerging markets, investing in factories and after-sales networks in Vietnam, Indonesia, and other places, and their sales territory continues to expand. As of now, China has signed 24 free trade agreements with 31 countries and regions, and the proportion of imports and exports to free trade partners has risen to 45%. The upcoming 4th China International Supply Chain Promotion Expo, as well as the Canton Fair and CIIE in the second half of the year, will further cultivate new advantages and unleash new potential for foreign trade through high-level opening up, injecting Chinese confidence into the world economic recovery.Editor/Yang Meiling

Data source: Released by the General Administration of Customs on June 9, 2026/Comprehensive report by Xinhua News Agency and People's Daily