(Yicai) April 29 -- Shanghai organized a networking event with shopping malls and supermarkets to help Chinese exporters tap into the domestic market after the global tariff storm unleashed by the US government, the second such meeting held by the city within 10 days.

Hosted by the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce and undertaken by Bailian Group, the latest event invited major shopping malls and supermarkets in Shanghai and nearly 80 Chinese foreign trade companies to connect and negotiate yesterday. Many of the parties involved reached preliminary alliance agreements.

On April 18, the Shanghai government said during the first networking event that it has teamed up with leading e‑commerce platforms and retail groups to provide exporters with policy consultations, updates on standards changes, product testing, and certification services to lower the costs for those seeking domestic sales.

"We have received more than 30 Chinese foreign trade firms," said Cai Xiaojing, deputy general manager of Bailian. For example, efforts are made to help a denim clothing business run by a woman in Guangzhou, whose US exports account for over 80 percent of her total, quickly start selling in multiple domestic department stores under Bailian by taking advantage of Shanghai's annual May 5 Shopping Festival, Cai noted.

To help Chinese foreign trade companies cope with tariff challenges, Lianhua Supermarket has opened a fast track for expanding into the domestic market, said Jin Lan, director of the Shanghai-based firm's food and general merchandise procurement department. Businesses can register through official QR codes, mini-programs, and others, with the fresh products of one such company hitting the shelves within a week of applying, Jin added.

Wu Haifeng, GM of Tianguo Biotechnology, who came to Shanghai from Jiangsu province to attend the networking event, said that more than 90 percent of the firm's goods are exported from the city. Affected by the high tariffs imposed by the US, exports to the country have almost stalled, while some raw materials are being wasted, Wu added.

Cooperating with major Chinese platforms, transferring self-operated products from export to domestic sales, and jointly developing products for the home market in combination with the platforms' needs is a self-rescue measure and a new beginning, Wu pointed out, adding that Tianguo Biotech is also striving to explore a more diversified global market.

The Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce, the Shanghai Municipal Administration for Market Regulation, and other departments also promoted relevant policies during the event, focusing on expanding domestic market channels and sales networks, reducing the cost pressure of Chinese foreign trade companies expanding into the home market, and enhancing their local operation capabilities. The representatives of many shopping malls and supermarkets also introduced service measures to support such firms' switch to domestic sales.

Bailian set up a special team for domestic sales shift, exploring the potential of more than 40 member firms and omnichannel platform networks in Shanghai and nationwide to boost domestic sales and promote local demand.

Freshippo, the Chinese grocery chain owned by Alibaba Group Holdings, opened a green channel for Chinese foreign trade firms, providing a 24-hour dedicated service during the settlement negotiation process, simplifying the certification and review process, shortening the product shelf-listing cycle, and ensuring that their products can be quickly sold in the home market.

The Shanghai government conducts multiple marketing activities to boost consumption during the May 5 Shopping Festival. During the upcoming sixth gala, local shopping malls and supermarkets will continue to host networking events for Chinese exporters of premium goods.

Editor: Martin Kadiev