Shanghai Free-Trade Zone

Shanghai Free-Trade Zone 中国（上海）自由贸易试验区
Free-Trade Zone
Gate 4 of Shanghai FTZ
Country	China
Municipality	Shanghai
District	Pudong
Area
• Total	120.72 km2 (46.61 sq mi)
Time zone	China Standard (UTC+8)
Website	http://en.shftz.gov.cn/

Shanghai Free-Trade Zone (Shanghai FTZ or SFTZ, colloquially known as 上海自由贸易区/上海自贸区 in Chinese), officially China (Shanghai) Pilot Free-Trade Zone (Chinese: 中国（上海）自由贸易试验区; pinyin: Zhōngguó (Shànghǎi) Zìyóu Màoyì Shìyànqū) is a free-trade zone in Shanghai, China. On 22 August 2013, the State Council approved the establishment of SFTZ. Officially launched on 29 September 2013 with the backing of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, it is the first free-trade zone in mainland China. The zone covers an area of 120.72 square kilometres (46.61 sq mi) and integrates four existing bonded zones in the district of Pudong — Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone, Waigaoqiao Free Trade Logistics Park, Yangshan Free Trade Port Area and Pudong Airport Comprehensive Free Trade Zone. Since 21 April 2015, Shanghai FTZ's areas are expanded, including Lujiazui Financial and Trade Zone, Shanghai Jinqiao Economic and Technological Development Zone (former Jinqiao Export Processing Zone) and Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park.

The zone is being used as a testing ground for a number of economic and social reforms. For example, the sale of video game consoles, banned in China since 2000, will be allowed within the zone. While Microsoft had aimed at having its Xbox on the market by late April 2014, it has now been slated for a release date of 23 September 2014. Consoles and individual games will still be subject to a case-by-case approval by the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture, Radio, Film & TV for manufacture and sales in China.

Although it was initially reported that the zone would also have unrestricted access to the internet (with bans on sites such as Facebook lifted), the official Xinhua News Agency has stated that Internet restrictions would not be lifted.

Commodities entering the zone are not subject to duty and customs clearance as would otherwise be the case. This has been a boon to the wine industry in China, as it grants importers more flexibility in bringing wine into the country.