China's trade with other Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies rose 23.9% year on year in the first three quarters of 2026, driven by greater openness, innovation, and cooperation across the Asia-Pacific, a customs official said Wednesday.

Trade with other APEC economies reached 24.07 trillion yuan (US$3.6 trillion) during the period, accounting for 60.3% of China's total foreign trade, up 2.5 percentage points from a year earlier, said Lyu Daliang, spokesperson of the General Administration of Customs of China and director general of its Department of Statistics and Analysis.

Lyu Daliang, spokesperson of the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) and director general of the Department of Statistics and Analysis of the GACC, attends a press conference in Beijing, Oct. 14, 2026. [Photo by Xu Xiang/China SCIO]

"Openness is the lifeline of Asia-Pacific cooperation," Lyu said at a press conference held by the State Council Information Office.

China has free trade agreements with 15 other APEC economies. Trade with those partners rose 29.2% to 18.2 trillion yuan in the first nine months, accounting for 75.6% of China's trade with other APEC economies, he said.

The country has also expanded mutual recognition of Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) programs with 10 APEC economies. China's AEO-certified companies recorded a 28.8% increase in trade with other APEC economies, which accounted for 44.5% of China's total trade with those economies, Lyu said.

An APEC-themed installation sits prominently in a shopping district in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, Aug. 10, 2026. [Photo/Xinhua] 

Innovation has become another major driver of growth. Trade in high-tech products with other APEC economies jumped 50.3% to 6.66 trillion yuan in the first three quarters, already exceeding the full-year total for 2025 and accounting for nearly half of the increase in bilateral trade.

Imports of electronic components from other APEC economies rose 56%, while exports of China's "new three" products — electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries, and photovoltaic products — increased 37.1%, Lyu said.

Closer cooperation on customs procedures and standards has also supported trade growth. China has stepped up cooperation with other APEC economies on food standards, inspection, and quarantine, while introducing measures such as automatic renewal and list-based registration for overseas companies.

Food trade with other APEC economies approached 800 billion yuan in the first three quarters, accounting for more than half of China's total food trade, according to customs data.

Lyu said China Customs would continue to support the APEC "China Year" agenda and promote stable trade growth in the Asia-Pacific and around the world.

As the host of APEC in 2026, China will hold the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Shenzhen from Nov. 18 to 19.