In a move to bolster the legal framework underpinning China's opening-up, Chinese national lawmakers have commenced their review of a draft revision to the Foreign Trade Law. The revision aims to integrate a series of reform measures into the national legislation, reinforcing China's commitment to open trade while safeguarding national security amid the complex global trade environment.

为夯实中国对外开放的法律基础，中国立法机关已启动《对外贸易法》修订草案的审议工作。此次修订旨在将一系列改革举措纳入国家立法体系，在复杂的全球贸易环境下，既彰显中国坚持贸易开放的决心，也切实维护国家安全。

The draft revision seeks to codify some critical reform measures, such as the negative list system for cross-border trade in services.

修订草案拟将部分关键改革举措以法律形式固定下来，跨境服务贸易负面清单管理制度便是其中之一。

Comprising 80 articles, the draft revision consolidates previously scattered legal provisions into a systematic framework that aims to guarantee that foreign trade effectively contributes to China's development while safeguarding national security.

修订草案共80条，将以往分散的法律条款整合为系统框架，既要确保对外贸易切实服务于中国发展，也要同步维护国家安全。

The Foreign Trade Law, enacted in 1994 with a view to expanding the country's opening-up, has been instrumental in integrating the country into the global economy. Over the past three decades, the law has facilitated trade liberalization, helped maintain foreign trade order, and protected the legitimate rights and interests of trade entities.

1994年颁布的《对外贸易法》以扩大对外开放为初衷，在推动中国融入全球经济进程中发挥了关键作用。过去三十年间，该法律不仅促进了贸易自由化，维护了对外贸易秩序，还切实保障了贸易主体的合法权益。

The law has markedly enhanced China's competitiveness in foreign trade, contributing to it becoming the world's largest goods trading nation and a major trading partner of more than 140 countries and regions, with its total trade volume reaching 43.85 trillion yuan ($5.98 trillion) in 2024.

在该法律的推动下，中国对外贸易竞争力显著提升，成为全球最大货物贸易国，与140多个国家和地区建立起主要贸易伙伴关系。2024年，中国对外贸易总额达43.85万亿元人民币（约合5.98万亿美元）。

Yet the global trade dynamics have changed rapidly in recent years, particularly with the rise of protectionism and unilateralism, which has severely disrupted trade. This has made it a pressing task for Chinese lawmakers to revise the law to adapt to the changes.

然而近年来，全球贸易格局快速演变，尤其是保护主义和单边主义抬头，严重扰乱了贸易秩序。在此背景下，中国立法机关修订《对外贸易法》以适应新形势，已成为一项紧迫任务。

The draft revision seeks to enshrine multiple reform measures in the law, including a negative list system for managing cross-border trade in services, and measures for promoting new forms and models of foreign trade, and encouraging digital trade and the establishment of a green trade system. This will help align the country with high-standard international trade and economic rules, and put it in a better position to participate in the formulation of global trade regulations. In addition, to further optimize the foreign trade environment, the draft specifies enhanced intellectual property protection and improved IP compliance and risk management for trade entities, and the establishment of trade adjustment assistance to stabilize industry and supply chains.

修订草案拟将多项改革举措纳入法律，除跨境服务贸易负面清单管理制度外，还包括促进对外贸易新业态新模式发展、鼓励数字贸易、建立绿色贸易体系等内容。这将助力中国对接高标准国际经贸规则，更好地参与全球贸易规则制定。此外，为进一步优化外贸环境，草案明确提出加强知识产权保护、完善贸易主体知识产权合规与风险管理，并建立贸易调整援助机制以稳定产业链供应链。

This is the first time the idea of establishing an assistance system for foreign trade enterprises has been raised in the legal framework, which has gained an increased sense of urgency given today's export challenges.

在法律框架中提出建立外贸企业援助机制，这尚属首次。鉴于当前出口面临的挑战，建立该机制的紧迫性日益凸显。

Importantly, the draft includes stringent measures to counter threats to China's sovereignty, security and development interests. It allows for restrictive or prohibitive actions against such threats and specifies that no entity may support attempts to evade these measures, with violations subject to legal penalties. These measures, which serve to protect the country's sovereignty, security and development interests, align with international norms and are not unique to China, as similar frameworks exist in Europe and the United States. There is no doubt that China needs lawful counteractions against rising protectionism.

值得关注的是，草案包含应对中国主权、安全和发展利益所受威胁的严格措施：允许针对此类威胁采取限制性或禁止性行动，并明确任何主体不得协助规避上述措施，违者将承担法律责任。这些措施旨在维护国家主权、安全和发展利益，符合国际惯例，并非中国独有——欧美等国也设有类似制度。毋庸置疑，面对日益升温的保护主义，中国需要通过合法手段予以应对。

Despite the complex external environment, China's foreign trade has maintained its growth momentum this year, with the total value of goods trade imports and exports reaching 3.87 trillion yuan in August, a year-on-year increase of 3.5 percent, according to the General Administration of Customs.

尽管外部环境复杂，中国外贸今年仍保持增长态势。据海关总署数据，8月中国货物贸易进出口总额达3.87万亿元人民币，同比增长3.5%。

Exports amounted to 2.3 trillion yuan and imports to 1.57 trillion yuan, up 4.8 percent and 1.7 percent year-on-year respectively, achieving double growth for three consecutive months.

其中，出口2.3万亿元人民币，同比增长4.8%；进口1.57万亿元人民币，同比增长1.7%，实现进出口连续三个月双增长。

All this testifies to the resilience of China's foreign trade sector. As the country continues to navigate the complexities of the global trade landscape, the revision of the Foreign Trade Law is a key step to steady its foreign trade and protect its core interests.

这些数据充分彰显了中国外贸行业的韧性。在全球贸易格局持续复杂多变的背景下，修订《对外贸易法》是稳定中国外贸、维护核心利益的关键一步。

The revised law, which is poised to serve as a cornerstone for China's trade policy, aims to facilitate a more integrated, innovative and secure trading system that will reinforce the country's position as a key player in the global economy.

修订后的《对外贸易法》有望成为中国贸易政策的基石，其目标是构建一个更具包容性、创新性和安全性的贸易体系，进一步巩固中国在全球经济中的重要参与方地位。

Foreign Trade Law

n.《对外贸易法》

/ˈfɒrən treɪd lɔː/

negative list system for cross-border trade in services