Original title: Li Keqiang presided over the executive meeting of the State Council

　　to determine inter-cyclical adjustment measures to promote the stable development of foreign trade

　　and make arrangements for the implementation of the "Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement" after it takes effect

　　Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, December 23. A few days ago, Premier Li Keqiang of the State Council presided over an executive meeting of the State Council to determine inter-cyclical adjustment measures to promote the stable development of foreign trade; to deploy and implement the "Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement" after it came into effect.

　　The meeting pointed out that the rapid growth of my country's imports and exports this year has made important contributions to stabilizing economic growth. However, the current foreign trade is facing more uncertain, unstable and unbalanced factors. It is necessary to implement the deployment of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, further expand opening-up in accordance with the requirements of the Central Economic Work Conference, introduce countermeasures for difficulties and challenges, make cross-cycle adjustments, help companies bail out, especially small, medium and micro enterprises, and strive to maintain orders and stabilize expectations. Promote the steady development of foreign trade. One is to strengthen policy support for import and export. Implement tax and fee reduction measures. Speed up the progress of export tax rebates and shorten the average time for tax rebates to less than 6 working days. Guide banks to innovate insurance policy financing and other products based on the needs of foreign trade enterprises. Keep the RMB exchange rate basically stable, encourage banks to carry out targeted forward foreign exchange settlement and sales business, and improve the ability of foreign trade enterprises to deal with exchange rate risks. Optimize export credit insurance underwriting and claim settlement conditions, and increase protection for small, medium and micro foreign trade enterprises and the risk of cancellation of orders before shipment. Deepen the cooperation and joint construction of the eastern region, the central and western regions, and the northeastern region, and support the gradient transfer and undertaking of processing trade. Do a good job in the import of bulk commodities. The second is to further encourage the development of new foreign trade formats such as cross-border e-commerce. A cross-border e-commerce comprehensive pilot area will be added. Cultivate a number of offshore trade center cities (regions). Increase support for the construction and use of overseas warehouses in a market-oriented manner. Optimize the import list of cross-border e-commerce retail goods and expand the import categories. The third is to strengthen supporting services for enterprises, and promote the resolution of problems encountered by enterprises in the development of domestic and foreign trade products of the same standard and quality, expanding trade channels, and improving supply chains. In 2022, the tax deferred interest will be temporarily exempted for domestic sales of processing trade enterprises. The fourth is to ease the pressure of international logistics. Encourage foreign trade companies and shipping companies to sign long-term agreements. Crack down on illegal charges and price gouging in accordance with laws and regulations. Support financial institutions to provide inclusive financial support in logistics to qualified small and micro foreign trade enterprises. The fifth is to support local governments to establish sound systems based on actual conditions, actively carry out trade adjustment assistance work, and help stabilize industrial and supply chains.

　　The meeting pointed out that through the joint efforts of relevant international and domestic parties, the "Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement" will come into effect on January 1, 2022. It is necessary to support enterprises to seize the opportunity of the implementation of the agreement, enhance their competitiveness in the international market, further improve the level of trade and investment development, and force domestic industries to upgrade. The first is to encourage enterprises to make good use of member states' tax reductions and regional origin accumulation rules to expand the export of superior products and the import of competitive products. Make good use of opening commitments and rules, strengthen cooperation in high-end, green industrial chains and manufacturing projects in the region, and improve the level of opening up in the service industry and investment. The second is to optimize the business environment in line with advanced international rules, actively introduce funds and talents in the region, and increase participation in the formulation and docking of international standards. The third is to establish a public service platform and expert team for the implementation of the free trade agreement, further strengthen the training of small, medium and micro enterprises through government procurement of services, and improve the ability to understand and apply the rules of the agreement. Develop professional services such as customs clearance and documents to provide convenience for small, medium and micro enterprises. The fourth is to continue to promote the effective implementation of more members of the agreement and the institutionalization of the agreement, and jointly build the main platform for regional economic and trade cooperation. Help play the role of the WTO and uphold free trade. Advance negotiations on other multilateral and bilateral free trade agreements to promote high-level opening up.

　　The meeting also studied other matters.