Imports of fresh-cut flowers from Ecuador have surged in China, spurred by the China-Ecuador Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that came into effect on May 1 this year.
The deal, inked in May 2023, stipulates that approximately 90 percent of the products traded between China and Ecuador would be exempted from tariffs, with about 60 percent of these products enjoying immediate zero tariffs.
At the Beijing Capital International Airport, a consignment of Ecuadorian roses passed smoothly through customs via a dedicated "green channel" for perishables.
"This shipment of flowers arrived at the Beijing Capital International Airport at around 03:00 this morning. If importers request expedited processing, we can initiate inspections right away, completing all clearance formalities in about an hour from the time the flowers are offloaded," said Huang Penglei, a customs officer.
As the day breaks, Beijing's flower markets come alive with buyers in search of sought-after varieties, such as New Zealand peonies, South African proteas, and Ecuadorian roses.
The FTA has set in motion a gradual reduction of tariffs on Ecuadorian fresh-cut flowers from 10 percent to zero over a five-year period.
Customs data reveals that from June to August alone, Beijing imported 136,000 Ecuadorian roses, up 41.1 percent year on year.
"The tariff [on Ecuadorian fresh-cut flowers] has dropped from 10 percent to 8 percent. This reduction allows us to offer better prices, which we directly pass on to consumers," said Song Xiaochen, a flower importer.
The trade pact extends to other Ecuadorian products, including bananas and coffee, with tariffs on these products also set to phase out to zero in coming years.
Lower tariffs have improved price competitiveness, boosting business for logistics companies.
Ecuadorian flower imports bloom in China under new trade deal
As global challenges in geopolitics, environment, society, and technology continue to rise, Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev has praised China's pivotal role in stabilizing the world economy and leading the green technology sector.
The World Economic Forum (WEF)'s Global Risks Report 2025, released on January 15, highlights a fragmented global landscape, with escalating geopolitical, environmental, societal, and technological risks threatening global stability and progress.
In an exclusive interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) on the sidelines of the 2025 WEF Annual Meeting in Davos, Aliyev shared some insights into China's influence on the global economy amid this uncertainty.
"As far as what we observed is concerned, the Chinese economy is very stable, and it is an important factor of the global economy. And for a country like Azerbaijan, which needs to have stable prices for fossil fuel, the Chinese economy is also an important factor. When the Chinese economy grows faster, the demand for fossil fuel is more. So, we are actually interested also from this point of view that China's economy always grows. But it is not easy," said Aliyev.
He acknowledged the high expectations for China's growth and expressed confidence in its future success.
"Expectations are very high. So, but I am sure that the talented Chinese people, they will find, I'm sure they already did, new points of growth, because you are the leader in technology. And in Azerbaijan, for instance, many Chinese companies provide their services and their technology," Aliyev added.
Aliyev also highlighted the increasing presence of Chinese companies in Azerbaijan, particularly in the green technology sector.
"In green technology, no one can compete. So our investors, which belong to different companies from different parts of the world, they select Chinese technology in order to install this capacity," the president concluded.
Azerbaijani president praises China's economic stability, green technology leadership
