The global economic and trade pattern is facing profound reshaping in 2026, intertwined with factors such as geopolitical games, changes in trade barriers and industrial chain restructuring. China’s foreign trade has withstood pressure to achieve steady growth and structural optimization. Despite the slow recovery of global demand and lingering trade frictions in some regions, China’s foreign trade exports maintain a high prosperity level relying on its complete industrial chain and improved product competitiveness. Export data in January-February beat expectations, with robust growth in exports to emerging markets, becoming a new engine for foreign trade growth.

Continuous upgrading of foreign trade structure is the core highlight. The proportion of exports of mechanical and electrical products and high-tech products has steadily increased, and the “new three types” – new energy vehicles, lithium batteries and photovoltaic products – remain the mainstay of exports. The competitiveness of branded and high value-added products keeps strengthening, breaking away from the model of simply relying on low-price competition. Meanwhile, imports are picking up steadily, with orderly imports of energy, bulk commodities and high-end equipment, which not only ensures the stability of the domestic industrial and supply chains but also meets the demand for consumer upgrading.

The resumption of China-U.S. economic and trade consultations and the deepened implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) have brought new opportunities for foreign trade development. China continues to advance high-level opening-up, optimize the business environment, expand markets along the Belt and Road Initiative, and booming new business forms and models such as cross-border e-commerce and market procurement trade have become new drivers of foreign trade growth.

In the short term, high oil prices and weak global demand will still exert certain disturbances on foreign trade. But in the long run, the resilience and competitiveness of China’s foreign trade are beyond doubt. With targeted foreign trade policy support and the deepening of diversified market layout in the follow-up, foreign trade is expected to maintain steady growth and continue to provide strong support for economic recovery.