Hainan ports rehearse special customs operations ahead of island-wide launch

A full-scale customs rehearsal was carried out Tuesday across ten key ports in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP), simulating inspection and clearance procedures ahead of the island-wide launch of special customs operations on December 18.

Beginning on Dec 18, Hainan will begin operating as a special customs supervision zone under a two-tiered system that allows freer entry from abroad, controlled movement to the mainland, and unrestricted circulation within the island. The FTP's island-wide special customs operations will mark a major milestone in the opening-up drive of the world's second-largest economy.

The ten ports in Haikou and Sanya will serve as key second-tier entry points, linking the Hainan FTP with other provinces across China. Once the system goes live, customs authorities will inspect zero-tariff goods moving through dedicated channels managed by these ports.

According to Luo Guisheng, an official from Hainan's Department of Commerce, Tuesday's rehearsal involved multiple departments working together to evaluate their inspection procedures and coordination capabilities.

"Overall, the operational rehearsal went smoothly with coordination among multiple departments. All systems and equipment ran steadily. It further ensured the smoothness and controllability in our preparatory work for the special customs operations. In the next month, we will continue our testing and lay an important foundation for the special customs operations starting on Dec. 18," said Luo.

Luo added that all hardware infrastructure projects in the Hainan FTP have passed final inspections, while digital systems, including the smart supervision platform and international trade portal, have completed joint testing and are now fully operational.

Located in China's southernmost island province, the Hainan FTP is the country's largest special economic zone and a key testing ground for deepening reform and opening-up. Its strategic position and policy flexibility have made it significant to the country's long-term plan to advance its opening-up at the institutional level.

Hainan ports rehearse special customs operations ahead of island-wide launch

Impact of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran is pushing Gulf countries to revisit costly plans for pipelines to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, so that they can continue to export oil and gas, the Financial Times newspaper reported on Thursday.

"Officials and industry executives say new pipelines may be the only way to reduce Gulf countries' enduring vulnerability to disruption in the strait, even though such projects would be expensive, politically complex and take years to complete," said the report.

"Previous plans for pipelines across the region have repeatedly stalled, undone by high costs and complexity," it said.

The Strait of Hormuz is a vital global energy corridor bordered by Iran to the north.

Around a fifth of global liquefied natural gas supply passed through the Strait of Hormuz, which also carries about one quarter of global seaborne oil trade.

Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities on Feb. 28, killing Iran's then Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with senior military commanders and civilians. Iran responded with waves of missile and drone strikes against Israel and U.S. assets in the Middle East, while tightening control over the Strait of Hormuz by restricting passage to vessels belonging to or affiliated with Israel and the United States.

Gulf countries consider new pipelines to avoid Strait of Hormuz: Financial Times