It is reported from the recent press conference held by AQSIQ, in accordance with questionnaire conducted on a national scale by AQSIQ that foreign technical measures to trade in 2014 have impacts on China export enterprises, the direct loss of the national export trade was up to USD 75.52 billion in 2014, in which top 5 countries and regions that have a great impact on the export enterprises are EU, USA, ASEAN, Latin America and Japan, accounting for 32.8%, 29.9%, 8.1%, 4.9% and 4.6% of the direct loss respectively. Technical measures to trade, following after exchange rate, has become one of the major barriers in export trade for enterprises, which shall be urgently drawn high attention by national government and foreign food trade enterprises, to take effective measures to respond positively, ensuring sustainable, stable and sound development of national foreign food trade.

Technical Measures to Trade

A Barrier for Export Enterprises

It is understood that, in February of this year, AQSIQ conducted on a national scale questionnaire that foreign technical measures to trade in 2014 have impacts on China export enterprises. In the questionnaire, export enterprises involved are divided into 7 categories such as agricultural products, food products, etc. and 3146 export enterprises distributing over 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities were randomly selected. Totally 3134 valid questionnaires have been recalled.

It’s estimated by the questionnaire that, in 2014, about 36.% export enterprises were affected more or less by foreign technical measures to trade; the direct loss of the export trade was USD 75.52 billion, increasing USD 9.31 billion from the previous year, accounting for 3.2% of exports of the same period, and increasing 0.2% from the previous year; additional cost of enterprises was USD 22.22 billion, decreasing USD 2.03 billion from the previous year. The top 5 provinces and cities affected seriously by foreign technical measures to trade are Guangdong, Zhejiang, Shandong, Tianjin and Jiangsu, accounting for 31.4%、15.6%、13.9%、8.7% and 6.1% of the direct loss respectively.

Sampling shows that technical measures to trade affecting export of agricultural products by main trading partners include agricultural veterinary medicine MRL and limit requirements on heavy metals and other harmful substances in foods, the microbiological index requirements, processing factory and warehouse registration requirements, and food labeling requirements. Technical measures to trade affecting export of Chinese industrial products include product certification requirements, technical standard requirements, labeling and marking requirements, packaging and material requirements, and limit requirements on toxic and hazardous substances in industrial products.

For example, recently, export of aquatic products and agricultural products from Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province has been affected more or less by foreign technical measures to trade. USA implemented “DWPE” system for our aquatic products exported to USA, which results in reputation damage to aquatic products export from Zhanjiang, lengthened inspection period and cost increase as well as other negative results. What’s worse, the “DWPE” system has not been completely terminated by now so that only 8 aquatic product export enterprises are permitted to enter into USA. In addition, the agricultural product export from Zhanjiang is also frustrated by Japan Positive List System.

Government and Food Enterprises Joining Hands Together

to Positively Respond and Enhance Overall Coordination

In this case, the inspection and quarantine department suggests that government and food export enterprises should join their hands together to positively respond foreign technical measures to trade and enhance overall coordination. We should accelerate establishment of complete and rapid coping response system, collect and analyze foreign technical measures to trade, carry out research on technical measures to trade of EU, America, and other countries or regions that have significance impact; actively promote construction of the public information integrated service platform for technical measures to trade, continuously improve response system for technical measures to trade, actively participate in international standardization activities, reinforce the overall process management of enterprises manufacturing, and promote “forced mechanism” to encourage the enterprises to enhance international competitiveness by self-dependent innovation, transformation and upgrading; governments at all levels and industry association should play a leading role in guiding industries and enterprises playing a role in market entity, provide specific theory basis and technical guidance to respond foreign technical measures to trade for the enterprises to ensure they can keep steps with international trends and make effective and timely reaction to irrational regulations, thus ensuring sustainable and stable development of national food export industry.