The General Administration of Customs (GAC) has rolled out 18 measures to buoy China’s foreign trade, its spokesperson said on Nov 25.

Customs procedures have been streamlined, raising customs clearance efficiency by around 50 percent, Zhang Guangzhi told a news briefing.

Foreign trade fees have been lowered or eliminated to reduce enterprises’ financial burden, he said.

The GAC has also slashed six items subject to government approvals or review for trade-oriented manufacturers.

GAC data showed that foreign trade dipped 8.1 percent year on year in the first ten months of 2015, while the annual target is a 6-percent increase.