(Yicai) Nov. 5 -- As Chinese exporters face mounting headwinds, this year’s China International Import Expo is highlighting new trade drivers. Participants at the ongoing forum in Shanghai are exploring key topics such as ‘risk protection and safeguards in global trade’ to help firms chart safer paths in international markets.

The biggest risks companies are currently facing are tariffs, policy uncertainty as well as weak supply chain resilience, Wan Hongping, senior vice president of Marsh (China) Insurance Brokers, told Yicai.

Compliance is also a risk. Cross-border data flows must meet regulatory requirements in multiple jurisdictions including the European Union and China. Some 67 percent of enterprises suffered cyberattacks in the past year, and a data breach could lead to fines of up to 4 percent of global revenue, according to Beijing-based Marsh.

Insurance has become an important way to transfer risk. Last year, the amount underwritten by China's export credit insurance companies jumped 10 percent year on year to top USD1.02 trillion, while payouts surged 11.7 percent to USD2.58 billion, Wan said.

However, relying solely on insurance is not enough. Companies also need to build a comprehensive defense system, Wan said. Businesses can reduce their reliance on certain regions by diversifying their supply chains and they can use artificial intelligence-powered digital risk management to identify risks and anticipate policy changes. Additionally, partnering with professional institutions can improve risk forecasting. ​

Emerging markets and green trade have become new growth engines. Exports of energy-saving technology to member countries of the world’s biggest trade pact, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, grew faster than China’s overall foreign trade from 2024 to 2025, according to the Shanghai Energy Saving Engineering and Technology Association

In addition to traditional markets in Europe and the United States, growth in Chile, Saudi Arabia and Australia has been noteworthy, Wu Di, deputy director of the association's overseas development center and director of Sinochem International Corporation, told Yicai.

To deal with tariff pressure, Wu suggested that in addition to supply chain diversification and technology exports, companies can use the CIEE to find partners and learn from peers. Companies like Sinochem International and Times Energy (Shanghai) New Energy Development plan to team up with companies from RCEP member countries to build green supply chains. The association will also organize matchmaking events to help businesses tackle challenges. ​

Editor: Kim Taylor ​