The Ministry of Commerce held a regular press conference on May 28. A question was raised regarding the outcomes and consensus on supply chain cooperation achieved at the APEC Trade Ministers' Meeting, a significant event of the APEC China Year. In response, Ministry of Commerce spokesperson He Yadong stated that the meeting resulted in the issuance of the "2026 APEC Trade Ministers' Meeting Suzhou Joint Statement" (hereinafter referred to as the "Suzhou Statement"). This document represents the first ministerial-level achievement of the APEC China Year. The successful conclusion of the "Suzhou Statement" sends a clear signal of promoting win-win outcomes through cooperation, injecting new growth momentum into the Asia-Pacific economy, which is currently facing pressures.
Regarding supply chain issues, He Yadong indicated that the parties reached a series of consensus on supply chain connectivity. All parties unanimously agreed that APEC should play a greater role in maintaining smooth supply chains and pledged to jointly ensure unimpeded trade channels and the normal flow of essential goods. He Yadong further pointed out that the Asia-Pacific region, as the most economically dynamic and largest trading bloc in the global economy, has a supply chain whose stability directly impacts the process of global economic recovery. The consensus reached at this meeting sends a clear signal to the international community that APEC economies choose "connection" over "fragmentation" and "cooperation" over "confrontation." This is of significant importance for building a more resilient, efficient, and inclusive Asia-Pacific supply chain network.
It was noted that recently, an official from the Ministry of Commerce's International Department provided an interpretation of the meeting's outcomes. The official explained that during the meeting, parties engaged in in-depth discussions on supply chain connectivity and reached a series of consensus. All parties will expedite the completion of the final review of the third phase of the "APEC Connectivity Framework Action Plan," continue to deepen connectivity cooperation, fully leverage the facilitation functions of the APEC Business Travel Card, continuously strengthen global and regional value chains, and enhance regional food security through practical cooperation to minimize the risk of disruptions in the food supply chain.
During the press conference, the progress of China-U.S. tariff negotiations also became a hot topic of interest for both domestic and international media. In response, He Yadong stated, "Tariffs have always been one of the key issues in China-U.S. economic and trade relations. Under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, the economic and trade teams of China and the U.S. have engaged in in-depth communication regarding tariff issues and made arrangements concerning bilateral tariffs. I would like to reiterate the hope that the U.S. side will honor its commitments and create positive conditions for expanding economic and trade cooperation between the two sides." He added, "At the same time, both sides have in principle agreed to discuss a framework for reciprocal tariff reductions on products of equivalent scale under the Trade Council, with each side covering $30 billion or more. The economic and trade teams of both sides will maintain close communication to determine specific arrangements and promote implementation as soon as possible."
Furthermore, the Ministry of Commerce also responded to matters related to cultivating service consumption hotspots and optimizing service supply. He Yadong noted that since the beginning of this year, demand for service consumption has accelerated. From January to April, service retail sales increased by 5.6% year-on-year, a growth rate 0.5 percentage points higher than the same period last year. Sectors such as tourism consulting, transportation, cultural and sports leisure, and communication information services all maintained rapid growth in retail sales. In line with the spirit of the National Service Industry Conference and to promote the quality improvement and public benefit of service consumption, the "2026 Service Consumption Season" activity will be launched on June 1 in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. The theme is "Enjoy Quality Services, Create a Happy Life."
He Yadong further stated that the "Service Consumption Season" is a key brand activity in the service consumption sector spearheaded by the Ministry of Commerce. The event will focus on diverse needs, cultivating a group of service consumption brands with good service quality, strong innovation momentum, and significant driving effects, making consumption more convenient and of higher quality. It will innovate consumption scenarios by promoting the integration of sectors such as "tourism+," "food+," "sports+," "performing arts+," and "ice and snow+," making consumption more diverse and abundant. Additionally, the event will strengthen multi-party collaboration, launching over 160 key activities covering more than ten fields to make consumption more beneficial and vibrant for the public.
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