China News Service, July 26. The "Special Administrative Measures for Cross-border Service Trade in Hainan Free Trade Port (Negative List) (2021 Edition)" (hereinafter referred to as the "Hainan Cross-Border Service Trade Negative List") was officially announced on the 26th.

Wang Shouwen, Vice Minister of Commerce and Deputy Representative of International Trade Negotiations, stated at a press conference held in the morning of the State Council Information Office that the "Hainan Cross-border Service Trade Negative List" is the country’s first negative list in the field of cross-border service trade. It is a major breakthrough in the management model of service trade.

　　According to Wang Shouwen, in addition to last year, the average annual growth rate of global cross-border service trade in the past ten years has been twice the average annual growth rate of trade in goods, which shows the future trend.

With technological progress, the development potential of service trade, especially cross-border service trade, will be further stimulated, and future cross-border service trade will become a key driving factor for global trade.

　　"The "Hainan Cross-border Service Trade Negative List" is the country's first negative list published in the field of cross-border service trade." Wang Shouwen emphasized that it is different from the previous opening arrangements for certain specific industries and relatively fragmented service industries. However, the "Hainan Cross-border Service Trade Negative List" clearly lists 70 special management measures in 11 categories for overseas service providers, and lists these as negative management measures.

In all areas outside the list, in the Hainan Free Trade Port, domestic and foreign service providers are treated equally and have equal access to cross-border service trade. It can be said that openness, transparency, and predictability have been greatly improved.

This list can be said to be a major breakthrough in the management model of service trade. It is an institutional opening arrangement that will help promote the liberalization of service trade and enhance my country's overall opening level. It will serve well in building a new development pattern.

　　Wang Shouwen pointed out that in the process of formulating the "Hainan Cross-border Service Trade Negative List" for more than a year, the following four points have been considered:

　　The first is to connect with high-standard international economic and trade rules.

The negative list model is a major model for international high-standard free trade agreements to make open arrangements in the field of cross-border service trade.

At present, my country’s entry into the WTO related concession schedules, as well as the free trade agreements signed by our country, in the field of cross-border service trade are all adopting a positive list to make commitments. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) signed last year In the agreement), we also use a positive list, but members promised to convert the positive list to a negative list within 6 years after the RCEP takes effect.

The "Hainan Cross-border Service Trade Negative List", in line with international high-level economic and trade rules, has made arrangements for the opening of cross-border service trade in the form of a negative list. It is an important reform of the existing service trade management model, and it is also promoted by the Chinese government. A specific practice of the reform of "decentralization, management and service".

　　Second, in the preparation process, always consider making active opening arrangements.

The "Hainan Cross-border Service Trade Negative List" relaxes the access restrictions in the field of service trade, and has made high-level opening arrangements in the fields of professional services, transportation services, and finance.

This degree of openness is not a requirement of bilateral agreements, but my country’s initiative. It exceeds my country’s WTO commitments and is also higher than the level of openness in the corresponding fields of major free trade agreements that have come into effect.

　　Third, when formulating the negative list, it reflects the characteristics of Hainan.

Tourism, modern service industry, and high-tech industry are the three leading industries in Hainan. The "Hainan Cross-border Service Trade Negative List" is based on the new development stage, implements the new development concept, and builds new development around the better use of Hainan’s free trade port. It played an important role in the structure and made a series of opening measures such as liberalizing the restrictions on foreign yachts entering and leaving the Hainan Free Trade Port to apply for pilotage. This will help accelerate the cultivation of new advantages in cooperation and competition with Hainan characteristics and promote the high-quality development of Hainan Free Trade Port. .

　　The fourth is to coordinate development and security.

While implementing the overall national security concept, insisting on bottom line thinking, strengthening risk awareness, and implementing high-level openness, the "Hainan Cross-border Service Trade Negative List" retains the necessary special management measures.

After the release of the list, Hainan Province will earnestly assume the main responsibility, accelerate the establishment of a complete supporting management system, strengthen the statistical monitoring and early warning of cross-border trade in services, and will firmly hold the bottom line of no regional and systemic risks. All relevant industry authorities And the Ministry of Commerce will strengthen support and guidance, and do a good job of supervision in their respective fields according to their responsibilities.

　　Wang Shouwen said that in the next step, the Ministry of Commerce, Hainan Province, and relevant departments will actively promote the implementation of the "Hainan Cross-border Service Trade Negative List", and timely summarize the assessment experience and practices, so as to implement cross-border service in the next free trade pilot zone and the follow-up nationwide. The trade list management system explores paths and accumulates experience.