On December 18th, China's Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) launched an island-wide independent customs operation, which rolled out smoothly and efficiently on its first day with early benefits already on display. Covering the island's entire 35,400 square kilometers, the special customs supervision area operates under the policy framework of "freer access at the first line, regulated access at the second line, and free flow within the island." Its full rollout marks a major national strategy moving from blueprint into a new phase of comprehensive implementation.

On the first day of customs closure, key ports and industrial zones across Hainan were bustling with activity. At Nanshan Port in Sanya, the first batch of goods benefiting from Hainan's 30% added value policy was hoisted and shipped. Under the policy, imported raw materials that are processed in Hainan with a value increase of over 30% can enter the Chinese mainland through the second-line channel without paying import tariffs. In the Yangpu Bonded Port Area, imported medical equipment worth hundreds of millions of yuan cleared customs rapidly. At the Haikou Comprehensive Bonded Zone, bonded maintenance work on four heavy-duty diesel engines was carried out smoothly. Meanwhile, the first batch of bonded maintenance businesses operating under "exceptional measures" was launched simultaneously.

On the corporate side, arginine ibuprofen granules produced by Hainan Zambon Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, among the first batch of goods enjoying preferential policies, were shipped to the Chinese mainland via the Xinhai Port and Nangang Port, two "second line" customs ports in Haikou. Since the policy pilot began, this wholly foreign-owned enterprise has already been exempted from a total of 350,000 yuan in tariffs on just three imported auxiliary materials.

In terms of people's livelihoods, crowds streamed into Haikou International Duty-Free Shopping Complex. Dong Xuejing, manager of a Huawei Authorized Experience Store, said that customer traffic surged sharply on the first day of customs closure, with some duty-free products priced more than 3,000 yuan lower than on the official website. "Customers from both home and abroad have been coming in one after another, and many shoppers came for the customs closure," she noted.

"With just one trip off the island, I can buy duty-free goods that can be picked up upon purchase as many times as I want throughout the year. It's so much more convenient!" said Haikou resident Liu Yun as she selected skincare products. Since the policy was optimized in November this year, Hainan's offshore duty-free policy has become more resident-friendly, with product categories expanded from 45 to 47. What excites her even more is that after customs clearance, the scope of zero-tariff imported goods will be significantly expanded, allowing the dividends of free trade port development to translate into tangible gains in everyday well-being.

海南自贸港全岛封关运作正式启动：企业“闯世界” 市民“购全球”

12月18日，海南自贸港全岛封关运作正式启动，首日运作高效顺畅、红利尽显。这一覆盖全岛3.54万平方公里、实行“一线放开、二线管住、岛内自由”政策的海关监管特殊区域全面运行，标志着国家重大战略从蓝图步入全面实施新阶段。

封关首日，海南各重点口岸与园区一派繁忙。三亚南山港，首批享惠的加工增值免税货物吊装启运；洋浦保税港区，数亿元进口医疗设备快速清关；海口综合保税区，4台重型柴油发动机保税维修作业顺利开展；首批“执行例外措施”的保税维修业务同步启动……

企业端，海南赞邦制药有限公司生产的精氨酸布洛芬颗粒，作为首批享惠货物经海口新海港和南港“二线口岸”（货运）发往内地。这家外商独资企业自政策试点以来，仅3种进口辅料已累计免征关税35万元。

民生端，海口国际免税城内人流如织。华为授权体验店店长董雪晶介绍，封关首日店内人流大幅增长，部分免税产品较官网便宜3000元以上，“一直陆续有海内外的客人来采购，很多消费者都冲着封关来”。

“一次离岛，全年都能买‘即购即提’商品，方便太多了！”海口市民刘韵一边挑选护肤品一边感慨。据悉，自今年11月优化后，海南离岛免税政策对岛内居民更加友好，商品品类也从45类增至47类。更让她期待的是，封关后“零关税”进口商品范围大幅扩容，自贸港的建设红利正转化为可感可及的幸福增量。

文丨记者 孙绮曼 郭思琦 黄城栋 蔡嘉鸿
译丨曾敏
英文审校丨林佳岱