The General Administration Of Customs Releases Trade Data, And Private Enterprises Become New Export Forces.

The General Administration of Customs issued trade data. In the first 4 months of this year, the total value of imports and exports of China's goods trade was 9 trillion and 70 billion yuan, down 4.9% from the same period last year (the same below). The decline narrowed by 1.5 percentage points in the first quarter. Among them, exports were 4 trillion and 740 billion yuan, down 6.4%; imports 4 trillion and 330 billion yuan, down 3.2%.

Unexpectedly, China exported 1 trillion and 410 billion yuan in the month of April, an increase of 8.2% over the same period last year. This result is beyond the expectation of many experts and rating agencies.

Why can export growth achieve positive growth in April? Private enterprises are indispensable. In 2015, the proportion of private enterprises' exports exceeded the number of foreign-invested enterprises for the first time, reaching 45.2%, becoming the first force in China's exports, and has been increasing exports of general trade. In this year's global epidemic situation is so serious and the import and export trade of various countries is declining, our private enterprises have continued to increase their efforts in general trade for many years, and have yielded fruitful results: not only from 1 to April, private enterprises imported and exported 3 trillion and 920 billion yuan, an increase of 0.5%, accounting for 2.3 percentage points higher than the same period last year, reaching 43.2%, and in April private enterprises accounted for the first time. 51.7%, accounting for half of China's exports.

Four forces support private enterprises to maintain strong growth in exports

Some people questioned the above data. Why can private enterprises export more growth than foreign enterprises or state-owned enterprises under the epidemic situation? Can private enterprises' export growth keep up?

For the first question, I think the current growth of private enterprises' export is due to the following four points:

First, the central and local governments have provided a favorable policy environment for export. In support of private enterprises to expand exports, the central government has launched a series of financial policies to reduce taxes and reduce fees, as well as customs clearance, inspection and quarantine facilities. Private enterprises have shown more vitality in the new business mode of foreign trade, and have become the main force to drive China's foreign trade growth. In addition, local governments have issued corresponding policies to help foreign trade development of private enterprises.

Two, private enterprises should change their concepts and improve general trade by developing diversified markets. Mainly in the following aspects: at the 126th Canton Fair, private enterprises participated in 21393 exhibitions, accounting for 85.57%, maintaining the status of the largest exhibitors in the Canton Fair. From 1 to April, China and Europe arranged 2920 columns and sent 262 thousand boxes of goods, most of which were small and medium-sized commodities, life and epidemic prevention materials produced by private enterprises, and also contributed to the global epidemic. The global epidemic is spreading, and the demand for products such as daily necessities, textiles, household appliances, children's articles and sanitary ware is increasing. Private enterprises are strong in the production and export of these products. Private enterprises begin to shift the US and European markets to ASEAN and the "one belt and one road" market from the perspective of development.

Three, private enterprises adjust their production plans according to the law of the epidemic development and make appropriate production plans. In particular, private enterprises in Zhejiang, Guangdong, Jiangsu and Shandong have made timely adjustments to the production plan and made preparations for production and export in view of the lack of consumer goods in Europe and America.

Four, private enterprises should join together to warm up and support each other during the epidemic situation, so as to jointly cope with the epidemic situation. During the epidemic period, private enterprises shared orders when international orders were insufficient, and increased cross-border electricity supplier trade when the domestic market was insufficient.

In the next five years, the proportion of private enterprises' exports will increase to 60%-65%

Some people think that the growth of private enterprises' exports will only be transferred to foreign enterprises and state-owned enterprises because of the epidemic situation. I think the proportion of private enterprises' export share will be bigger and bigger in the future, and will account for 60%-65% of China's exports in the next five years. To support the development of foreign trade in China's private enterprises, we need to do the following:

First, the government should introduce more policies and measures to encourage private enterprises to export. We will continue to improve the policies of reducing tariffs, customs clearance and preferential policies to small and micro enterprises in private enterprises, and continue to play the main role of private enterprises in the future export. Policy efforts focus on the following aspects: as soon as possible to enable private enterprises to enjoy the same treatment with foreign enterprises and state-owned enterprises; financial credit policy to more support for small and micro enterprises; cross-border electricity providers, general trade and other trade patterns go hand in hand.

Second, we should continue to enhance political standing and increase the main role of private enterprises in foreign trade exports. Through the observation of the export growth of private enterprises in the first 4 months of this year, we feel that the Central Committee will play an important role in stabilizing the foreign trade and stabilizing employment in the "six stability". Next, we should continue to improve our political standing and give more preferential policies to private enterprises in building the best business environment. In the first quarter of 2020, there were more than 125 private enterprises, accounting for 99.42% of the total number of newly registered enterprises, accounting for 99.42% of the total. Despite the impact of the epidemic, private enterprises still showed vigorous development and full of vitality.

Third, let private enterprises play a greater role in the allocation of resources in the market. Governments at all levels should provide private enterprises with a larger market platform and give full play to the main role of private enterprises. For example, the Canton Fair and the fair will involve more private enterprises and give more concessions.

Looking at the current global foreign trade market, it is unexpected that China's private enterprises can play such a big role under the epidemic situation, which shows that our policies are effective. It is believed that private enterprises will play a bigger and more important role in the import and export trade in the next five years.

(former Vice Minister of Commerce, Wei Jianguo, vice chairman of China International Economic Exchange Center)