Episode Details

In a move to bolster the legal framework underpinning China's opening-up, Chinese national lawmakers have commenced their review of a draft revision to the Foreign Trade Law. The revision aims to integrate a series of reform measures into the national legislation, reinforcing China's commitment to open trade while safeguarding national security amid the complex global trade environment.

为夯实中国对外开放的法律基础，中国立法机关已启动《对外贸易法》修订草案的审议工作。此次修订旨在将一系列改革举措纳入国家立法体系，在复杂的全球贸易环境下，既彰显中国坚持贸易开放的决心，也切实维护国家安全。

The draft revision seeks to codify some critical reform measures, such as the negative list system for cross-border trade in services.

修订草案拟将部分关键改革举措以法律形式固定下来，跨境服务贸易负面清单管理制度便是其中之一。

Comprising 80 articles, the draft revision consolidates previously scattered legal provisions into a systematic framework that aims to guarantee that foreign trade effectively contributes to China's development while safeguarding national security.

修订草案共80条，将以往分散的法律条款整合为系统框架，既要确保对外贸易切实服务于中国发展，也要同步维护国家安全。

The Foreign Trade Law, enacted in 1994 with a view to expanding the country's opening-up, has been instrumental in integrating the country into the global economy. Over the past three decades, the law has facilitated trade liberalization, helped maintain foreign trade order, and protected the legitimate rights and interests of trade entities.

1994年颁布的《对外贸易法》以扩大对外开放为初衷，在推动中国融入全球经济进程中发挥了关键作用。过去三十年间，该法律不仅促进了贸易自由化，维护了对外贸易秩序，还切实保障了贸易主体的合法权益。

The law has markedly enhanced China's competitiveness in foreign trade, contributing to it becoming the world's largest goods trading nation and a major trading partner of more than 140 countries and regions, with its total trade volume reaching 43.85 trillion yuan ($5.98 trillion) in 2024.

在该法律的推动下，中国对外贸易竞争力显著提升，成为全球最大货物贸易国，与140多个国家和地区建立起主要贸易伙伴关系。2024年，中国对外贸易总额达43.85万亿元人民币（约合5.98万亿美元）。

Yet the global trade dynamics have changed rapidly in recent years, particularly with the rise of protectionism and unilateralism, which has severely disrupted trade. This has made it a pressing task for Chinese lawmakers to revise the law to adapt to the changes.

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