Global exhibitors hail consumer expo in Hainan as gateway to China's thriving market

International exhibitors at the ongoing fifth China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) have emphasized its role as a key gateway to tapping into the vast opportunities of the Chinese market.

Running from April 13 to 18 in Haikou City, south China's Hainan Province, this year's CICPE marks its largest edition yet, featuring over 4,100 brands from 71 countries and regions. As China's only state-level exhibition dedicated to consumer goods, the expo has become a global hub for showcasing innovation and fostering international partnerships.

For foreign businesses, whether seasoned attendees or first-time participants, the event serves as a key platform to explore China's dynamic consumer landscape and unlock new growth opportunities. At this year's event, countries like France, Switzerland, and Ireland continue to showcase high-quality consumer brands, while newcomers such as Slovakia, Singapore, and Brazil debuted as national delegations. The expo's expanding "circle of friends" demonstrates its growing international influence and appeal.

Foreign-funded enterprises see the expo as a valuable window into emerging trends and shifts in China's consumer market, offering fresh opportunities to explore and expand their business development strategies.

"We are actually looking for distributors here in China. I believe the Chinese market is a huge opportunity, it is a huge market and I believe we can get established here in China too," said Chris Ruzicka, manager of Organica Europea, a health food company.

"It will be very interesting to come here and see the local customers, interact with them. I would say the Chinese market is one of the most important markets actually in the world now. We see the buying purchasing power actually in Asia," said Waleed Abumazen, founder and director of Orient Crown, a Singaporean company specializing in watch winders.

Exhibitors also emphasized that China's hosting of the CICPE demonstrates its commitment to fostering fair and open trade, reinforcing its role as a global hub for economic collaboration and innovation.

"It has been great to get some conversations between the UK businesses and Hainan about how we can invest in Hainan and how we can bring our products and our business to Hainan. So, it has been very open to conversation," said Jon Hosty, international sales manager of Craghoppers, a UK-based outdoor brand.

"The reason why I choose the Chinese market is that actually we would like to [have] win-win cooperation. We are in China, [and] China always welcomes foreign companies to come here, trade here," said Shankar Koirala, a Nepali exhibitor.

"We love to see countries cooperate together on free trade， no need to put tariffs, so much restrictions," said Abumazen.

Global exhibitors hail consumer expo in Hainan as gateway to China's thriving market

U.S. consumers will see higher prices and slower deliveries after Friday's expiration of a duty-free treatment for Chinese imports under 800 U.S. dollars, known as the de minimis threshold.

According to an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on April 2, starting from Friday (May 2), imported goods from China entering the U.S. through means outside the international postal network, which are valued at or under 800 U.S. dollars and would otherwise qualify for the de minimis exemption, will be subject to all applicable duties, which should be paid in accordance with applicable entry and payment procedures.

The order also leaves all relevant postal items containing goods from China sent through the international postal network, which are valued at or under 800 dollars and would otherwise qualify for the de minimis exemption, subject to a duty rate of either 30 percent of their value or 25 dollars per item (increasing to 50 dollars per item after June 1). It adds that this is in lieu of any other duties, including those imposed by prior orders.

It's estimated that the U.S. receives nearly four million low-value packages every day, most of which come from China. According to a report from the Congressional Research Services of the United States, low-value packages from China have skyrocketed from 5.3 billion dollars in 2018 to 66 billion dollars in 2023.

In response, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce has stated that the U.S. adjustment on its tariff policy on low-value imports is destructive and will seriously affect the interests of American consumers.

The ministry said that any adjustment to cross-border e-commerce should aim to bring more convenience to consumers.

The de minimis provision, which was introduced in 1938 for shipments of five U.S. dollars or less, allows low-value parcels to enter the U.S. tax free. In 2016, that threshold was increased to 800 dollars.

The policy was intended to reduce the administrative burden for U.S. customs, speed up e-commerce flow for both retailers and consumers, and encourage cross-border trade by lowering barriers for cheaper items.

U.S. consumers to feel pinch as duty-free treatment for cheap parcels from China ends