Since the operation of China-ASEAN Free Trade Area in January, Jiaxing s export to ASEAN has rocketed. Data shows that the volume of export and import between Jiaxing and ASEAN amounted to US$1.12 billion in 2009, out of which the export volume was US$558 million, accounting for 4.52% of the total export volume, and the import volume was US$562 million, accounting for 11.
5% of the total import volume. However, in the first two months this year, the volume of import and export between Jiaxing and ASEAN reached US$223million, a rise of 112.2% over the same period of last year, out of which the export volume was US$108 million, an increase of 84.04%, and the import volume was US$115 million, a growth of 147.
78% over the same period of last year. Therefore, ASEAN has become one of the fastest- growing emerging export markets for Jiaxing.
According to Zhang Jiansheng, director of Jiaxing Bureau of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, as there are 1.9 billion customers in China-ASEAN Free Trade Area, the gradual elimination of tariff barriers will provide a more convenient platform for enterprises from China and ASEAN, stimulate great increase of trade volume, improve trade structure, and give impetus to the development of trade and economic cooperation between China and ASEAN.
