Chinanews.com, April 2nd. The Ministry of Commerce held a regular online press conference on the 2nd, regarding the recent purchase of grain in some regions, policies and measures to stabilize and expand automobile consumption, and the resumption of production and resumption rates of foreign trade companies in China. Respond to hot issues.

Data Map: On March 24, Xiaogan citizens shopped in a supermarket. Photo by Zhang Chang from China News Agency

Ministry of Commerce: no need to buy bulk food at home

A reporter asked: The recent changes in the country's grain export policy have caused concern among domestic consumers, and there have been concentrated purchases in some regional markets. How is China's grain supply? Will there be problems of insufficient supply and rising prices?

Wang Bin, deputy director of the Department of Consumption Promotion of the Ministry of Commerce, pointed out that China's grain production has been bumper for years, with abundant stocks and reserves, long-term stable prices, and the impact of international markets on China's grain supply is small. In 2019, China's total grain output was 664 million tons, an increase of 0.9% over 2018, the highest level in history, and the "16 consecutive harvests" were achieved.

According to the analysis of relevant information from the Ministry of Agriculture, the situation of grain production in 2020 is generally better. The situation of summer grain seedlings is better than usual, and a good harvest is in sight. The area of ​​early rice planting has expanded, and there is a basis for increasing production. During the epidemic, the state continued to introduce policies and measures to support agricultural production. This year's grain harvest is a high probability event.

Wang Bin said that the analysis of relevant experts believes that the current global food supply is generally in excess and the world's food supply is operating at a low level, but the structural contradiction between supply and demand is prominent. The relevant countries have issued export bans mainly to meet domestic food supply needs. Will follow suit.

"Consumers have absolutely no need to worry about the shortage of food supplies and the sharp rise in prices. There is no need to concentrate on buying bulk food at home to hoard food." Wang Bin said.

In addition, a reporter asked a question. Some grain exporting countries, such as Vietnam, have restricted their grain exports due to the epidemic. What's your comment on this? Can you tell us about China's grain imports and exports in recent years? Can China's food supply be self-sufficient?

Liu Changyu, the second inspector of the Foreign Trade Department of the Ministry of Commerce, said that we noted the temporary prohibition measures imposed on rice exports by countries such as Vietnam. At present, the new crown epidemic is spreading globally. We hope that all countries can join hands to maintain normal international trade and goods flow.

Wang Bin said that in recent years, the Chinese government has implemented a proactive import policy, and has continuously increased the import of food and agricultural products, including grain, to meet the growing demand for consumption upgrades of the people. The main purpose of imports is to adjust the variety of grains and regionally.

"China's grain production has been bumper for years, with abundant stocks and sufficient reserves, and China's grain is fully self-sufficient." Liu Changyu said.

Talking about consumption promotion measures: eight aspects to promote consumption

A reporter asked a question. Many places have issued measures such as issuing consumer vouchers and promoting automobile consumption. What general considerations does the Ministry of Commerce have in promoting consumption and what specific measures does it have?

Wang Bin said that the Ministry of Commerce guides local and enterprises to focus on the following areas:

The first is to promote resumption of business. In conjunction with relevant departments, we strengthened the implementation of rescue policies for enterprises, promoted the popularity of the market as soon as possible, started consumption in physical stores, maintained the popularity of new online consumption, and fully activated the consumer market.

The second is to promote urban consumption. Accelerate the transformation and upgrading of pedestrian streets, promote the construction of smart pedestrian streets, guide pilot streets to cope with the streets, take multiple measures, and attract popularity as soon as possible to revitalize the prosperity of the market. Policy measures.

The third is to increase rural consumption. Accelerate the promotion of e-commerce into the countryside, expand coverage, improve the end-sales network, and unblock the channels for agricultural products to enter the city and industrial products to the countryside.

The fourth is to expand commodity consumption. Accelerate the implementation of the policies and measures introduced by the Party Central Committee and the State Council. Further promote the transformation of automobile purchase restrictions to guide the use of policies, improve the policies and regulations of motor vehicle scrap and used car circulation, and free up space for automobile consumption. Support and guide local governments to formulate reward and compensation policies to promote consumption of green energy-saving home appliances and furniture. The 3rd Import Expo will be held well to expand imports and optimize domestic market supply.

Fifth, boost service consumption. Revitalize catering and accommodation consumption, create green restaurants, guide companies to improve their safety and health management capabilities, advocate meal sharing and use public spoons of chopsticks, and reshape consumer confidence. Carry out pilot projects for the development of community life services and guide the nationwide community life services to achieve high-quality development. Promote the quality and expansion of the domestic industry, expand the scale of supply, and improve the quality of supply.

Sixth, foster new consumption. Promote the deep integration of online and offline, support the development of online economy and platform economy, encourage physical retail to accelerate digital transformation, and promote the popularization and application of new formats, models and scenarios of consumption. Support central cities to strengthen the first store economy and the first economy, and promote the development of small store economy.

Seven is the active consumer market. Guide qualified regions and enterprises to promote various types of consumer vouchers, shopping vouchers, and coupons to specific groups, specific products, and specific fields on the premise of complying with relevant laws and regulations and fair disclosure, to promote popularity and consumption replenishment.

Eighth, optimize the consumption environment. In conjunction with relevant departments, guide local governments to urge distribution companies to strictly implement the main responsibility of epidemic prevention and control, so that consumers can rest assured that they can enter stores and consume with peace of mind. Further improve the consumer credit system, strengthen the management of the circulation industry, and continuously improve the consumer environment.

Fully maintain the stability of the global automotive industry chain and supply chain

A reporter asked a question. Affected by the overseas epidemic, Bosch and other European and American factories have ceased production. The Chinese auto industry's dependence on imported parts faces the risk of supply cutoffs, which may even cause a shutdown crisis. How does the Ministry of Commerce view the reverse of the overseas epidemic on the automotive supply chain? Conduction? What are the considerations in solving this problem?

Liu Changyu said that with the spread of the international epidemic, some auto and component manufacturers in Europe and the United States that were severely affected by the epidemic were affected to varying degrees. The spread of overseas epidemics will inevitably have an impact on China's auto trade and supply chain operations.

At the same time, under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, the domestic automobile and parts production has been in the stage of full resumption of production and production, and the pressure on the automotive supply chain has been greatly eased. In particular, on March 31, the State Council issued another two-year extension of new energy vehicle purchase subsidies and exemption from purchase tax, supported Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei and other key regions to eliminate the national third and lower emission standards of diesel trucks and reduce the value-added of used car dealerships. Tax rate and other three measures. This will further promote automobile consumption and slow the impact of the epidemic on the automobile supply chain.

Liu Changyu pointed out that the Ministry of Commerce and the relevant departments will pay close attention to the current problems in the automotive supply chain, and actively guide domestic auto companies to strengthen overseas supplier production and supply monitoring, increase orders and inventory, formulate alternative plans, and reasonably arrange production; To strengthen customs clearance and logistics facilitation, and ensure smooth import channels for automotive core components, raw materials, and R & D, production, and testing equipment.

We are willing to work together with other countries to actively fight the epidemic, strengthen international cooperation, and strive to maintain the stability of the global automotive industry chain and supply chain to minimize the adverse impact of the epidemic on the entire industry.

Data Map: Automotive Manufacturing Platform. Photo by China Press Agency Han Haidan

How to stabilize and expand automobile consumption? Ministry of Commerce response

A reporter asked a question. On March 30, the executive meeting of the State Council reviewed and approved policies and measures to stabilize and expand automobile consumption. What is the plan of the Ministry of Commerce to implement it?

Wang Bin said that the automobile is an important pillar industry of the national economy, with a high proportion of total zero, a large space for growth, and a strong driving effect. It is one of the important areas to expand physical commodity consumption and promote consumption upgrade. Taxes and employment in the automobile and related industries account for about one-tenth of the country's total. One auto industry job can drive at least seven jobs in related industries.

Due to multiple factors, China's auto sales have fallen for two consecutive years. The epidemic exacerbated the downward pressure on automobile consumption, with sales falling by 42% from January to February 2020. At present, the accelerated spread of overseas epidemics may further affect the development of the automotive industry.

The Party Central Committee and the State Council attach great importance to the State Council Executive Committee's recent review and approval of policies and measures to promote the consumption of new energy vehicles, reduce the value-added tax rate of second-hand vehicle distribution, and support the elimination of old diesel trucks. These measures were issued promptly, promptly, and powerfully, capturing key links in automobile consumption such as new cars, second-hand cars, and scrap cars, and consolidating consensus from all sectors of society. It is conducive to stabilizing the development and employment of the automobile industry, accelerating the release of automobile consumption, and promoting the formation of a strong domestic market.

In the next step, the Ministry of Commerce will conscientiously implement the decision-making and deployment of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, actively implement relevant policies and measures with relevant departments, accelerate the reform of decentralized service, promote the stabilization of new car sales, and promote the relaxation or abolition of purchase restrictions in relevant places, and continue to improve the car use environment. , Speed ​​up the revision of the "Measures for the Management of Used Car Circulation", prosper the used car market, and promulgate the "Detailed Implementation Rules for the Management Measures for the Recycling of End-of-Life Motor Vehicles" as soon as possible to promote the renewal of old car scraps and continue to promote the release of automobile consumption potential.

What is the situation of resuming work and productivity in foreign trade enterprises in China?

Liu Changyu pointed out that since the outbreak of the new crown pneumonia epidemic, the Ministry of Commerce has issued a series of policies and measures, with precise force and efforts from all parties, to fully support foreign trade enterprises to resume work and resume production. Resumption of production and production of foreign trade enterprises continued to show a good trend.

According to statistics, as of March 30, the recovery rate of 75.6% of key foreign trade enterprises nationwide exceeded 70%, an increase of 4.2 percentage points from last week. In Hubei Province, more than 50% of foreign trade companies have a recovery rate of more than 70%.

"We are confident to overcome the current difficulties and challenges, make overall plans for epidemic prevention and control, and economic and social development, and make every effort to stabilize the basic foreign trade." Liu Changyu said.