Trade | Mike Bastin

The Shanghai Free Trade Zone has at last opened officially amid much positive media attention. But does this initiative really represent a major step toward a new era of reform or could it actually lead to a setback as the Chinese economy struggles to reignite the explosive growth of the past few decades?

Firmly related to the financial sector, the few details to have emerged include the marketization of interest rates and the opportunity for international trade settlements in yuan. Also to emerge are details of foreign company access to the health insurance, shipping and tourism sectors.