This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement and the fifth anniversary of China's carbon peak and neutrality goals, as global climate governance and green transition enter a critical new phase. As a key link balancing environmental sustainability and economic growth, green trade has garnered increasing global attention. Recently, China's Ministry of Commerce and 15 other departments jointly issued the "Implementation Opinions on Expanding Green Trade" (hereinafter referred to as the "Opinions"), proposing 16 targeted measures to cultivate new momentum in foreign trade.
Industry experts noted that the introduction of this specialized policy coincides with a period of accelerated global green transition, rapid restructuring of green trade rules, and China's "dual-carbon" goals entering a攻坚 phase. It provides clear guidance for enterprises to overcome standard barriers and enhance international competitiveness, signaling China's shift from policy advocacy to systematic implementation in green trade, particularly in green industrial chain coordination and carbon footprint accounting.
**Opportunities and Challenges in Green Trade** The green trade landscape presents both opportunities and challenges. On one hand, the urgency of climate action and the vast market potential of green industries are driving strong trade demand. On the other, fragmented green standards and rising carbon tariffs are creating new trade barriers, hindering global green transition efforts.
Lü Jianzhong, former director of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), highlighted structural challenges China faces in global carbon-related trade rule-making: developed countries dominate rules and markets, developing nations lack unified negotiation power, domestic standards lag international norms, and many enterprises lack compliance readiness.
He Han, a low-carbon expert at SGS, added that varying environmental and carbon footprint requirements across markets create invisible "green barriers."
**Global Rule-Making and Standard Recognition** To address these challenges, the "Opinions" propose leveraging platforms like the G20, BRICS, and APEC to advance Chinese initiatives and engage in green negotiations under high-standard trade agreements. The policy emphasizes aligning domestic standards with international ones and promoting mutual recognition, marking a strategic shift from "growth-driven" to "rule-driven" foreign trade.
Lü suggested China adopt a dual approach: externally, building alliances and piloting green clauses in regional trade agreements; internally, accelerating standard alignment, empowering industries with compliance and转型 tools, and enhancing carbon-related trade support through digital and green finance.
He Han stressed that integrating China's green industry practices into international rules can elevate its global influence. Mutual recognition of standards, especially in carbon footprint and green supply chains, is key to breaking trade barriers and enabling "standard出海" (exporting standards).
**Green Transformation Across the Supply Chain** Green trade hinges on green products and industries. The "Opinions" advocate expanding imports and exports of green technologies and products. China already leads in global green product supply, with wind and solar equipment exports reducing global carbon emissions by 4.1 billion tons during the 14th Five-Year Plan period.
However, green trade transformation extends beyond product exports to include low-carbon logistics and supply chain coordination. The policy promotes shifting bulk freight transport to rail and waterways, adopting green packaging, and supporting clean energy in shipping.
It also urges leading enterprises to embed green practices across supply chains, setting standards and sharing carbon management tools to drive industry-wide transformation.
**Carbon Footprint and Pricing Mechanisms** A credible carbon data system is vital for green supply chains. The "Opinions" aim to build a national carbon footprint database aligned with international standards, addressing current pain points like inconsistent核算 and unrecognized data under mechanisms like the EU's CBAM.
Wang Minna, chairperson of Hangzhou Chaoteng Energy, highlighted challenges in standard alignment, data transparency, and trade protectionism. She called for unified碳足迹核算 standards and traceable databases.
Xue Dongyang, president of Sino-Credit Green Finance Technology, emphasized enhancing ESG评级 credibility to boost trust in global supply chains. He proposed leveraging third-party services and green finance to support SMEs.
The policy also links green trade with carbon pricing and green certificate mechanisms, incentivizing enterprises through market-driven carbon cost internalization. Qian Shengli, chairman of Shanghai Dingshi Energy, advocated improving电碳核算 systems and green power certification to reward emission reduction efforts.
**Regional Strategies for Green Supply Chains** Leng Aoqi, a green finance advisor, recommended tailored regional approaches: coastal provinces like Guangdong and Zhejiang could pioneer "zero-carbon supply chain zones" using digital platforms, while central and western hubs like Guangxi and Chongqing should focus on ASEAN markets as "green intermediate goods hubs."
As China advances green trade systematically, the integration of policy, standards, and market mechanisms is poised to reshape global trade dynamics, fostering sustainable competitiveness in the green economy era.
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