General

The "Hainan Cross-border Service Trade Negative List" was released. On July 26, Wang Shouwen, Vice Minister of Commerce and Deputy Representative of International Trade Negotiations, stated at a press conference held by the State Council Information Office that the "Hainan Cross-border Service Trade Negative List" is the first my country's release in the field of cross-border service trade. Negative list.

Wang Shouwen said that Hainan Free Trade Port, as an important platform for my country's active opening up, launched the country's first cross-border service trade negative list, which will help to increase the intensity of opening stress testing and play the role of pilot and pilot demonstration with risk prevention and control as the bottom line. In the next step, my country will also implement a cross-border service trade negative list in the pilot free trade zone and across the country. Hainan’s approach will explore the path and accumulate experience for the next step of wider opening up, and it will also lay the groundwork for my country to participate in or influence international economic and trade rules. Solid foundation.

Why has Hainan become the "first order"?

Wang Shouwen said that the first negative list of cross-border trade in services to be implemented in Hainan has three main considerations.

First, from the practical needs of Hainan’s construction of a free trade port, the implementation of the cross-border service trade negative list in Hainan will promote the free and convenient flow of service-based technology, capital, data and other production factors and resources, which is important for promoting construction. It is very important for a high-level free trade port with strong international influence.

Second, in terms of pilot conditions, Hainan is the largest special economic zone in my country. It has unique geographical and regional advantages in implementing comprehensively deepening reforms and experimenting with high-level opening up. Taking the lead in implementing the cross-border service trade negative list model, with high openness and flexibility, it is conducive to the test of open pressure, and can accumulate experience and explore paths for the next step of implementing the negative list in a wider area.

Third, the formulation of a negative list of Hainan's cross-border service trade is also a clear requirement in the "Overall Plan for the Construction of Hainan Free Trade Port."

Four highlights are worth paying attention to

Wang Shouwen said that the "Hainan Cross-border Service Trade Negative List" has the following highlights that deserve attention.

In terms of talent policy, the cross-border service trade negative list has implemented a more open policy. For example, the removal of restrictions on the participation of more than 10 professional qualification examinations for foreign individuals, such as registered metrology engineers, survey and design registered engineers, and registered fire protection engineers, will facilitate the participation of outstanding foreign talents in the construction of Hainan Free Trade Port.

In terms of improving transportation freedom and facilitation, the negative list implements a more open ship transportation policy and air transportation policy, and will also play an important role in promoting the construction of a new western land-sea channel international shipping hub and aviation hub. For example, the "Hainan Cross-border Service Trade Negative List" removes the restriction that overseas ship inspection agencies have not established a ship inspection company in China, and are not allowed to send personnel or employees to conduct ship inspection activities in China. The restrictions on foreign service providers engaging in aviation meteorological services have also been lifted.

In terms of expanding the opening up of the professional service industry, for example, allowing overseas law firms’ representative offices in Hainan to engage in some commercial non-litigation legal affairs related to Hainan, allowing Hainan law firms to hire foreign lawyers as foreign legal advisers and Hong Kong and Macao lawyers as legal advisers, cancel Restrictions on foreign service providers engaging in customs declaration business, etc.

In terms of expanding the opening up of the financial industry, the "Hainan Cross-border Service Trade Negative List", on the one hand, insists on financial services to the real economy and promotes financial reform and innovation in an orderly manner; on the other hand, it also further expands opening up. For example, foreign individuals are allowed to apply for opening securities accounts or futures accounts, and can apply for qualifications in securities investment consulting and futures investment consulting.

Will have a positive effect

Chen Xi, director of the Hainan Provincial Department of Commerce, said that the "Hainan Cross-border Service Trade Negative List" is another important measure for Hainan Free Trade Port's policy system and institutional innovation, which will accelerate the process of Hainan's trade liberalization and facilitation. It has a superimposed effect with other free trade port policies that have already been issued, and promotes Hainan Free Trade Port to form new advantages in the development of service trade, which will actively promote and promote the development of industries and enterprises. Companies will find more business opportunities in Hainan, and Hainan will also have more opportunities to provide related services at home and abroad.

Chen Xi introduced that in terms of customs declaration, it was originally stipulated that only legal persons established in China can engage in customs declaration business. Now the requirement to establish legal persons in the Hainan Free Trade Port is cancelled. That is, overseas customs brokers do not need to register legal entities in Hainan. Directly carry out customs declaration business. This not only increases the freedom of overseas customs declaration companies to enter Hainan, but also effectively reduces corporate operating costs. At the same time, it is also conducive to Hainan's local foreign trade companies to use overseas high-quality services more conveniently and enhance their international competitiveness.

In terms of ship inspection, it was originally stipulated that if a foreign ship inspection agency does not set up a ship inspection company in China, it shall not employ or send personnel to carry out ship inspection activities in China. This time, the restriction on the establishment of ship survey companies in Hainan Free Trade Port has been lifted. Foreign ship inspection agencies now do not need to set up independent legal entity survey companies in Hainan Free Trade Port. They can directly send personnel or employees to carry out ship inspections in Hainan. business. This has also improved the level of freedom and convenience of transportation, and will help Hainan Free Trade Port shipping companies to obtain more and better international services. At the same time, it can also reduce operating costs and provide new convenient conditions for the agglomeration and development of international shipping companies.