Hainan’s Free Trade Port Launch Marks China’s Bold Economic Gambit with Zero Tariffs and Visa-Free Entry
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- •Hainan Free Trade Port launched on December 18, 2025, with a customs model allowing zero tariffs internally and only on exports to mainland China.
- •Over 6,600 product categories now enjoy zero tariffs, up from 1,900 at launch, covering 74% of eligible goods.
- •Foreign investment surged with 3,265 new foreign-invested enterprises registered within two weeks of launch.
- •Visa-free entry for citizens of 86 countries and duty-free shopping in Sanya have boosted tourism and consumer spending, with offshore sales exceeding 2 billion yuan.
China has taken a historic step toward redefining its economic openness with the official launch of the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP), a bold initiative aimed at transforming the tropical island into a global trade and investment hub. The FTP, which began full operations on December 18, 2025, introduces a groundbreaking customs model described as “freer access at the first line, regulated access at the second line, and free flow within the island.” This means that while Hainan remains part of China, it now functions as a neutral trade zone—tariffs and customs procedures apply only when goods move from the island to mainland China, not for internal circulation.
