The first Consumer Expo after the operation of Hainan Free Trade Port's customs closure attracts attention! Hainan Province responds to every question from Meiri: The list of zero-tariff goods for Hainan Free Trade Port has been expanded to over 6,600 items.

Our Daily Reporter | Zhou Yifei    Our Daily Editor | Huang Bowen

On March 30, the State Council Information Office held a press conference to introduce relevant information about the 6th China International Consumer Goods Expo (hereinafter referred to as the 6th CICE).

At the scene, Sheng Qiuping, Vice Minister of Commerce, introduced that the 6th CICE will be held in Hainan Province from April 13 to 18. This CICE is both the “first show” among major national expos for the “15th Five-Year Plan” opening year, and also the “first debut” after Hainan’s free trade port began full island-wide customs clearance operations. The 6th CICE will bring more than 3,400 brands from over 60 countries and regions to participate, with the proportion of international exhibits accounting for 65%, an increase of 20 percentage points from last year.

As the first CICE after Hainan’s free trade port officially started full island-wide customs clearance operations, what new experiences and new look will the 6th CICE bring to exhibitors and consumers? When answering the above questions from our reporter of The Paper Daily Economic News, Bat’er said that this year’s CICE for the first time sets up a procurement buyer service center, upgrades the online supply-and-demand docking platform, and improves transaction effectiveness. In addition, Hainan’s zero-tariff goods list has been expanded to more than 6,600 items, which provides more opportunities for exhibitors to build production bases, especially supply chain centers, in Hainan, with broad radiation to the Chinese mainland market and Southeast Asian markets.

Press conference site　Photo source: Our Daily Reporter Zhou Yifei 摄

Mainland products such as shoes and hats, scarves, clothing and apparel, tea, coffee, and ceramic products can also be sold in Hainan duty-free stores

Bat’er told our reporter of The Paper Daily Economic News that the first CICE after the official start of Hainan’s free trade port customs clearance operations is not only a platform for concentrated display and trade of premium products and consumption worldwide, but also a window for centrally releasing the various favorable policies after customs clearance.

First, it makes exhibitors feel more satisfied.

On one hand, we will step up efforts to invite global procurement buyers and carefully organize a series of special matchmaking events between supply and demand. For the first time, the 6th CICE sets up a buyer service center, upgrades the online supply-and-demand docking platform, and improves transaction effectiveness.

On the other hand, after customs clearance operations, the convenience for enterprises to clear customs will continue to improve, and exhibitors transporting exhibits will be able to enjoy lower costs and more professional services. Hainan’s zero-tariff goods list has already been expanded to more than 6,600 items, which also provides more opportunities for exhibitors to set up production bases, especially supply chain centers, in Hainan, radiating widely to the Chinese mainland market and Southeast Asian markets.

Second, it makes duty-free consumption more affordable.

On one hand, duty-free shopping from off-island travel is more convenient, and the range of choices will be more diverse. Categories of duty-free goods from off-island travel have expanded to 47 categories; mainland products such as shoes and hats, scarves, clothing and apparel, tea, coffee, and ceramic products can also be sold in duty-free stores. On the other hand, after customs clearance, Hainan has formally implemented the zero-tariff policy for inbound goods consumed by residents within the island. Currently, five stores have already opened.

Finally, it makes consumer scenarios richer.

The Bo’ao Lecheng pilot area has introduced more than 560 types of patented drugs, medical devices, and special foods. At the same time, thanks to the “zero-tariff” policy, the usage cost of imported drugs and medical devices has been reduced by about 13%. This year’s CICE also specifically sets up an international health segmented expo area, so consumers can understand these cutting-edge health products and medical services more intuitively. Meanwhile, at the CICE venue, consumers can also shop duty-free. Relying on the duty-free policy for imported exhibits sold during the expo, consumers can directly purchase from around the world “new, rare, unique, and cool” goods at the expo site, and enjoy duty-free prices.

Bat’er emphasized that overall, after customs clearance, Hainan is building a multi-tier duty-free consumption system of “duty-free shopping from off-island travel + duty-free daily consumer goods + duty-free imported drugs and medical devices + duty-free exhibits for the CICE exhibition period,” promoting the transformation of duty-free consumption from “specific scenarios” to “daily consumption.”

In 2025, “trade in old for new” cumulative subsidies for senior-friendly products exceeded 7 million items

In April 2025, 12 departments including the Ministry of Commerce and the National Health Commission issued the “Special Action Plan for Promoting Healthy Consumption,” and launched the special action at the 5th China International Consumer Goods Expo. What results has this special action achieved so far? What arrangements does this CICE make for healthy consumption?

Yang Mu, Director of the Market Operation and Consumption Promotion Department of the Ministry of Commerce, said that first is to “eat healthily.” Strengthen the connections between production and sales of high-quality agricultural products, and encourage the development of healthy diets such as wellness meals and light meals. In 2025, the market scale of green food reached 629.2 billion yuan, and “eating healthily” has become a trend.

Second is to “get moving and create vitality.” Life lies in exercise. The state invested funds to support the construction of fitness venues and facilities for the whole people, and carried out theme activities such as the mass ice-and-snow season and the ice-and-snow consumption season, driving a boom in fitness activities. In 2025, the sales of sports and entertainment goods by units above the quota increased year on year by 15.7%. In the 2025–2026 ice-and-snow consumption season, more than 300 million person-times participated in ice-and-snow travel and leisure.

Third is to “switch and improve quality.” Include senior-friendly home products in the scope of consumption subsidies under the “trade in old for new” program to promote the development of the smart eldercare industry. In 2025, “trade in old for new” cumulative subsidies for senior-friendly products exceeded 7 million items.

Fourth is health services. Support the rapid development of health services business formats such as health management, psychological counseling, wellness and health preservation, and traditional Chinese medicine therapy; and promote retail pharmacies to expand service functions such as health consultations and medication guidance. To date, nearly 1,000 retail pharmacies have been upgraded into “Healthy Stations” with comprehensive service functions.

Yang Mu emphasized that this year, the Ministry of Commerce will also work with relevant departments to carry out the “Healthy Consumption Season” activity, promoting innovation in scenarios and integration of business formats to enhance the level of healthy consumption development. During the CICE, a launching ceremony for the “Healthy Consumption Season” will be held to guide relevant institutions to release the Healthy Consumption Index, Healthy Dietary Guidelines, Healthy Consumption Initiative, and other materials, and to promote the philosophy of healthy living.

“This CICE will also set up a healthy consumption zone, building a brand promotion, product experience, and industry exchange platform to showcase goods and services such as health foods, dairy products, consumer-grade drugs and medical devices, and health care products and services. In the Bo’ao sub-venue, an international health expo area will be set up to create immersive experience scenarios such as intelligent medical care, globally curated selections, tech you can carry, and health services,” Yang Mu said.

Cover image source: Zhou Yifei