Green power, precise carbon accounting empower Zhejiang’s export growth

The official rollout of the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), or carbon tariff, has profoundly reshaped the global trade landscape, imposing new green market-entry barriers for export-oriented enterprises worldwide. The policy shift has directly affected companies' ability to secure overseas orders and sustain global market competitiveness.

As a major foreign trade hub in China, Zhejiang boasts robust exports of textiles, rubber products and mechanical equipment to Europe, rendering its trade landscape highly sensitive to international green policy updates. In response, Zhejiang has accelerated low-carbon transformation across its export manufacturing sector and developed internationally compatible product carbon footprint accounting systems.

A pioneer in this endeavor, Jiaxing has demonstrated strong momentum in export-driven economic growth. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the city's total import and export volume registered an average annual growth rate of 10.2 percent, exceeding 490 billion yuan in 2025.

To advance green trade upgrading, Jiaxing has prioritized full-life-cycle carbon footprint management. It has forged a replicable development model featuring technological innovation, multi-stakeholder collaboration and scaled pilot application, offering a solid reference for Zhejiang's manufacturing sector to tackle global green trade barriers.

Backed by provincial research institutions, State Grid Zhejiang Electric Power has spearheaded innovations in carbon accounting methodologies. In partnership with local government authorities, State Grid Jiaxing Power Supply Company has launched China's first one-stop carbon footprint service platform, built under a government-led and grid-operated framework. The platform serves as a key pilot initiative for carbon footprint governance innovation across Zhejiang Province.

Moving forward, Zhejiang will continue to upgrade low-carbon accounting technologies and expand their application scenarios while improving the comprehensive carbon service system. Drawing on successful experience from the Jiaxing pilot program, the province will strengthen cross-city coordination, advance mutual recognition of carbon accounting standards across the Yangtze River Delta, and refine scalable and replicable low-carbon development models. These efforts will help more Zhejiang-made and Chinese-made products obtain internationally recognized carbon footprint certifications, enabling fairer and smoother participation in global green trade.