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Recently, China’s Ministry of Commerce issued the "Implementation Opinions on Expanding Green Trade," systematically promoting green trade development through a dedicated policy for the first time. Lv Jianzhong, former director of GRI BIO INC and an expert in sustainable business strategy, noted in an interview that this document signals an upgrade in China’s foreign trade policy—from a "scale-driven" approach to one guided by "rules, standards, and value orientation." He emphasized that China is transitioning from a "participant" to a "leader" in the restructuring of global green trade rules.
Lv highlighted that the world is at a critical juncture of accelerated green transformation, tightening international green regulations, and China’s intensified efforts toward its "dual carbon" goals. Meanwhile, China’s role in global sustainability has evolved significantly, shifting from an early participant to a leader with increasing influence. Against this backdrop, the new policy signals a strategic shift—positioning green trade as a systemic approach to enhance China’s national strength and industrial competitiveness globally.
Regarding challenges in securing international carbon-related rulemaking influence, Lv pointed out four key obstacles: developed nations’ rule dominance due to first-mover advantages, coordination difficulties caused by diverging stances among developing countries, gaps between domestic and international standards, and insufficient corporate compliance capabilities.
To address these, he proposed a dual-track approach. Externally, China should proactively build a "rules alliance" on multilateral platforms, pilot green clauses in regional free trade agreements, and amplify the global impact of its initiatives. Domestically, it must accelerate alignment between local standards and international systems, empower industries through compliance-driven transformation, and strengthen carbon-related trade support via digitalization and green finance.
For enterprises, Lv outlined three strategic directions from his book *Sustainable Business Strategy and Practice*: 1. **Strategic Anchoring**: Integrate green trade requirements into corporate governance to avoid reactive compliance. 2. **Capability Building**: Focus on carbon footprint management, green production innovation, and green service support—core competencies mentioned in the policy—to transition from single-product exports to full-value-chain services. 3. **Ecosystem Collaboration**: Leverage policy resources and partnerships to reduce transition costs and foster a shared sustainable business ecosystem.
Lv cautioned against companies using short-term survival as an excuse to neglect sustainability, stressing that "sustainable practices are the only viable long-term strategy." With green trade now imperative, businesses must fundamentally shift their mindset to convert policy advantages into lasting competitive edges.
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