Chinese authorities pledge stronger support for exporters amid external challenges

China's Ministry of Commerce pledged stronger measures to help export-oriented enterprises navigate a complex international trade environment and expand overseas markets during a round-table discussion with industry representatives on Monday.

Chaired by Commerce Minister Wang Wentao in Beijing, the meeting brought together representatives from 12 foreign trade firms, six major import-export associations, and experts from the Academy of Macroeconomic Research to discuss the current foreign trade landscape and policy support for exporters.

Noting that the central authorities attach great importance to foreign trade, Wang acknowledged that foreign trade faces a complex and grave situation this year, with intensifying external shocks. Despite these difficulties, the minister emphasized that China's foreign trade has maintained stable operations while demonstrating resilience.

He condemned recent U.S. tariff hikes as "unwarranted," stressing China's countermeasures have "defended national interests, upheld international fairness and justice and earned global respect."

Wang highlighted that the China-U.S. high-level meeting on economic and trade affairs held last week in Switzerland has led to significant consensus and substantive progress, paving the way for bridging differences and deepening cooperation.

He said the ministry will coordinate domestic economic efforts with international economic and trade challenges, and work with relevant government departments to help foreign trade enterprises overcome difficulties, provide more support to facilitate their market expansion and promote the stable development of foreign trade.

Officials from other department including the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the State Administration for Market Regulation, and the National Financial Regulatory Administration also responded to specific concerns and suggestions raised by businesses.

Representatives from participating companies and organizations said they are confident in their ability to weather external shocks and maintain stable business growth.

Chinese authorities pledge stronger support for exporters amid external challenges

China's smart consumer device manufacturing sector has seen rapid growth this year, fueled by a government-backed trade-in program and the expansion of diversified consumption scenarios.

From January to May, the country's electronic information manufacturing industry maintained strong momentum, with total revenue of enterprises above the designated size reaching 6.49 trillion yuan (some 900 billion U.S. dollars), up 9.4 percent year on year.

Production of electronic consumer goods recorded steady increases. Over 140 million computers were produced during the period, up 8 percent from a year earlier, while 14.04 million television units rolled off assembly lines, up 1.7 percent year on year.

"Consumption scenarios are becoming more diversified. On the demand side, new smart products are quickly entering the market, opening up emerging markets in home services, health management, and beyond. On the supply side, the industry is clearly moving toward transformation and upgrading, with new growth drivers accelerating," said Zuo Kairui, director of the Industry Development Department of the Institute of Policy and Economics at the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology.

Looking ahead to the second half of the year, China plans to go on promoting its "AI plus consumer goods" initiative, encouraging the development and application of new technologies such as smart wearables, ultra-high-definition video, brain-computer interfaces, and robotics.

Meanwhile, authorities will continue to foster high-growth consumer sectors and guide the smart device industry toward greener, more service-oriented development.

China's smart consumer device industry sees rapid growth amid policy boost