Summary
Recently, a flight from Santiago, Chile, carrying chilled Chilean sea urchins arrived at Shenzhen Airport and was quickly cleared by Shenzhen Customs. Zhang Lei, general manager of Shenzhen Lift Import and Export Co. , Ltd.
, said that since the first import of 48 kg of Chilean sea urchins on March 31, 2024, market response has been positive, with now more than two arrivals per week covering the whole country. To ensure quality, Shenzhen Customs developed plans to speed up the entire process, reducing clearance time from landing to release to just four hours. Shenzhen is a key port for Chilean products in China, with one-third of Chilean cherries exported to China passing through Shenzhen.
China has been Chile's largest trading partner for many years, while Chile is China's third-largest trading partner in Latin America, mainly exporting copper, lithium, cherries, pork, and wine. A free trade agreement was signed in 2005, with an upgraded version implemented in 2019, covering about 98% of products with zero tariffs. In January 2024, 93% of Chilean cherry exports went to China, generating US$1.447 billion.
China's ambassador to Chile stated that China's innovation, manufacturing, and green development align well with Chile's revitalisation of industrialisation, green development, and digital economy. In the automotive sector, Chinese-made cars held a 39.73% market share in Chile in 2022. BYD's pure electric buses entered Santiago in 2017, launched its sixth model in 2023, and secured preferential lithium prices to invest in a battery factory.
During his visit to China last year, Chilean President Boric expressed a desire to deepen trade cooperation and open more markets.
Commentary
This news means for New Zealand small and medium enterprise owners that the model of deepening trade cooperation between China and Chile could be replicated in China-New Zealand trade. Chile achieved 98% zero tariffs through its FTA, with agricultural products like cherries and sea urchins quickly entering the Chinese market, indicating strong demand for high-quality food and that customs clearance efficiency is a key competitive factor. New Zealand is also known for agricultural exports such as dairy, meat, and fruit, but after the upgrade of the China-New Zealand FTA, although zero tariff coverage is high, attention must be paid to specific product restrictions.
The Chilean case shows that Chinese consumers have high acceptance of fresh, specialty products (e.g., chilled sea urchins). New Zealand businesses could explore similar niche high-end products like chilled seafood or organic honey, but need to address cold chain logistics and fast customs clearance. On the other hand, cooperation between China's new energy vehicle industry and Chile's lithium mines suggests opportunities for New Zealand in green energy and digital economy, such as exporting clean technology to China or participating in Chinese supply chains.
However, New Zealand must be mindful of geopolitical risks and avoid over-reliance on a single market. Overall, the news indicates China's willingness to deepen cooperation with resource-based countries. New Zealand should leverage existing FTA advantages, optimise export processes, and focus on China's consumption upgrade trends to develop differentiated products.
Keywords: China-Chile trade cooperation, free trade agreement, Chilean sea urchins, cherries, new energy vehicles, BYD, lithium mine, Shenzhen Customs, zero tariff, Chinese market
Source: Xinhua Net
Disclaimer: This article is compiled from publicly available sources for general information only. The analysis and commentary are editorial opinions. MiDeer Observer does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information provided. Readers should seek independent professional advice before relying on this content, or contact us for more information.
