BEIJING (Reuters) - China will make port operations more efficient and hold more online trade fairs, among new measures to ease pressure on foreign trade, Vice Commerce Minister Wang Shouwen said on Wednesday.
Export growth in the world's second largest economy slowed to single digits in April, the weakest in almost two years, while imports stayed flat as strict COVID-19 curbs halted factory production and crimped domestic demand.
Logistics efficiency has dropped, supply chains are not running smoothly and soaring raw material prices have put firms involved with international trade under pressure, Wang said at a press conference in Beijing.
"We must be clear about the uncertainties for foreign trade while the global economy recovery remains fragile and demand growth is still slow," Wang said, adding that rising global inflation will reduce consumer spending on foreign goods.
Widespread and stringent COVID-19 curbs, including a full lockdown of commercial hub Shanghai in April and May, hit Chinese factories hard and caused massive supply chain disruptions.
Wang said China would introduce targeted measures to boost trade, including aid from banks on issues related to currency, shipping costs and export tax rebates.
The transport ministry will help improve port operations and more online trade fairs will be organised to help firms secure orders, Wang added.
The measures are in line with the cabinet's previously announced policy of boosting foreign trade through export tax rebates and ensuring smooth shipments of key components and equipment.
Exports in May likely grew 8% from a year earlier, accelerating from a 3.9% expansion in April, while imports were expected to have risen 2%, according to a Reuters poll. Trade data will be released on Thursday.
China will keep its currency reasonably stable and strengthen the yuan's flexibility, Zhou Yu, an official at the People's Bank of China, said at the same press conference.
(This story corrects in paragraph 5 start of Shanghai's full lockdown to April, not March)