Since 2014, Shanghai has spearheaded the national adoption of the international trade "single window" via the Shanghai electronic port platform. This pivotal effort within the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone aims to streamline trade supervision, ensuring secure and efficient customs clearance while aligning with global best practices and regulations.

The China (Shanghai) International Trade Single Window has streamlined operations across 16 categories and 66 distinct applications. It covers functions from "customs clearance + logistics" to "foreign trade + finance" and "regulation + services". With integration into 22 departments, it is widely adopted by over 600,000 businesses. Serving as a digital foundation for optimizing the port's business environment, it has significantly reduced costs for enterprises and made trade more efficient.

The “single window" emphasizes the core principle of "one platform, one submission, result feedback, and data sharing". Through technological, operational, and model innovations, it streamlines the submission of declarations by trade and transportation enterprises to regulatory authorities for port supervision and various stages of international trade management. Regulatory results and information are seamlessly provided back to enterprises through the "single window", creating an efficient "one-stop" experience.

The "single window" is advancing its digital and intelligent applications in regulation, logistics, and financial services. For declaration operations, it has upgraded the enterprise online declaration mode to a 24/7 automated appointment mode. The regulatory approach has transitioned from random inspections to an intelligent warning system. In financial services, the model has evolved from traditional credit extension to a multidimensional profiling system based on big data.

Leveraging digital finance, the "single window" streamlines and reduces costs in enterprise financing, fostering real economic development. Through collaboration with financial institutions, it addresses challenges such as on-site visits and paper-based transactions in international settlements, financing, loans, and insurance services, optimizing the process.

To maximize the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) benefits, the "single window" establishes a dedicated RCEP service area. It features an optimized tariff and origin rules inquiry system, along with an RCEP knowledge base, expert database, and a consultation hotline. Utilizing the advantages of "free trade + bonded zones", it enhances investment and trade facilitation, assisting enterprises in maximizing the benefits of RCEP preferential measures.

In addition, the "single window" has established a dedicated zone for China-Europe freight trains, providing real-time updates on train dynamics. Through a streamlined online collaboration system, it boosts operational efficiency by approximately 50 percent for trade, agency, and logistics enterprises. This initiative supports the development of the China-Europe freight train "Shanghai Express" and contributes to the creation of a pivotal hub for the Belt and Road Initiative.

The "single window" streamlines processes, cutting goods declaration time from one day to 30 minutes and vessel declaration time from two days to two hours. Digital transformation ensures paperless and contactless operations, saving over 2 billion yuan ($280.26 million) annually in time and manpower costs for declaring enterprises.

Access the China (Shanghai) International Trade Single Window website by clicking HERE.

Source: pudong.gov.cn