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Big news is coming out of China that could shake up global trade. Starting in 2026, the Chinese government will eliminate long-standing export rebates for hundreds of products, affecting a wide spectrum of industries.

This isn’t a minor adjustment. It’s a major policy shift that will influence the cost of exporting goods from industrial materials to everyday consumer products.

In this article, we explain what’s happening, which categories of products are affected, and why importers need to pay attention.

• China
• Sourcing & Import from China

Our office and communication with suppliers in China will be paused from February 8 to 24, 2026, due to the extended holiday shutdown in factories during the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year).

The official Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) in 2026 runs from February 15th to 23rd, but in practice most factories and suppliers in China remain closed for a longer period, typically from February 8th to 24th. These non-working days affect all business activities and communication with suppliers.

During this period, our office will also be unable to send inquiries, receive responses, or provide accurate quotations, as communication with Chinese suppliers and factories during the New Year practically comes to a halt. This is not just our decision – this schedule applies to nearly all manufacturers in China.

• China
• Sourcing & Import from China
• Gabriel group

We visited the factory and checked stone crushers, well drilling machines, and other construction equipment for our clients.

Late last year, we had the chance to visit one of our long-term manufacturing partners in Shandong Province. This visit allowed us to see a factory producing excavators, loaders, bulldozers, well drilling machines, cranes, mixers, and many other construction machines, both large and small.

The main goal of our visit was to inspect two machines intended for our clients, ensuring they meet high-quality standards. These visits are part of our commitment to delivering reliable solutions for importing construction machinery from China. Being on-site gives us full confidence in every step of the production process.

• Sourcing & Import from China
• Inspection Services
• Chinese machinery

On Thursday, December 18, 2025, China began implementing special customs incentives across the entire island as part of the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) project – the largest free trade zone in the world by area. These measures allow freer entry of foreign goods, significantly expand the list of duty-free products, and introduce more favorable business conditions, with a clear goal of developing Hainan into a new international commercial center, modeled after Hong Kong.

Once an underdeveloped and remote border outpost, Hainan was declared China's largest special economic zone as early as 1988. With the master plan published in 2020, an ambitious goal was set – to gradually develop the island into a fully open free trade port by the middle of the 21st century.

The General Office of the State Council of China published the official public holiday schedule for 2026 on November 4, 2025. According to the lunar calendar, Chinese New Year 2026 begins on February 17, marking the start of the Year of the Horse, specifically the Fire Horse, symbolizing energy, action, freedom, and independence.

The Horse in Chinese astrology represents speed, energy, ambition, and independence. People born in this year are usually active, confident, and initiative-driven. The 2026 Fire Horse year brings passion, energy, courage, and opportunities for new projects. Red symbolizes luck and success, while the fire element promotes determination and creativity. This is a good year for innovation and setting ambitious goals.