China on Thursday launched island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP), the world's largest FTP by area, allowing freer entry of overseas goods, expanding zero-tariff coverage and more business-friendly measures.⁣ ⁣ The move is widely seen as a landmark in China's efforts to promote free trade and expand high-standard opening-up amid rising protectionism worldwide.⁣ ⁣ Under the new arrangements, the tropical island of more than 30,000 square km has been designated as a special customs supervision zone, marking a new stage in the development of the Hainan FTP.⁣ ⁣ There, foreign companies can benefit from a business environment more closely aligned with international standards, lower tax and production costs, broader access to service sectors like healthcare and education, and use Hainan as a platform to tap into the vast Chinese mainland market.⁣ ⁣ The share of zero-tariff products in the Hainan FTP has been raised from 21 to 74 percent, expanding the list...