封关已确定，美妆消费要变天了！

Core Viewpoint - The official announcement of the Hainan Free Trade Port's full island closure operation starting December 18 signifies the establishment of China's largest free trade port, enhancing its international market connectivity and attracting global quality resources [1][3]. Group 1: Impact on the Beauty Industry - Hainan has become a crucial duty-free shopping destination for international beauty brands, with a total duty-free shopping amount of 250.1 billion yuan since the implementation of the duty-free policy in April 2011, where cosmetic products account for over 50% of sales [3]. - The "closure" refers to designating Hainan as a "domestic outside" area, allowing for zero tariffs on imported goods while maintaining customs management for goods entering other domestic regions [3][4]. - The range of zero-tariff products will expand from 1,900 to approximately 6,600 tax items, covering 74% of all product categories, which is an increase of nearly 53 percentage points compared to before the closure [6]. Group 2: Cost Reduction and Market Competitiveness - The elimination of import tariffs on cosmetics will directly reduce import costs for companies, with the lowest most-favored-nation tax rate for skincare products being 1% and up to 6.5% for other beauty products [7]. - The processing and value-added policy allows goods processed in Hainan with over 30% imported materials to enter the mainland exempt from import tariffs, only subject to value-added and consumption taxes, enhancing market competitiveness [7]. - As of March 2023, the value of processed goods for internal sales in Hainan reached 7.546 billion yuan, with an estimated tariff exemption of about 601 million yuan [7]. Group 3: Strategic Adjustments by International Brands - Major international beauty brands have already begun to strengthen their presence in Hainan, with several opening duty-free stores in recent years, including Kao, Shiseido, L'Oréal, Estée Lauder, and Procter & Gamble [8]. - The closure of Hainan is seen as a pivotal moment for international beauty brands in China, shifting focus from "traffic competition" to "value cultivation," with the ability to convert policy benefits into brand assets being crucial for future competitiveness [10]. Group 4: Opportunities for Domestic Brands - The closure presents multifaceted opportunities for domestic beauty brands, allowing them to reduce raw material costs through processing policies and enhance their high-end image via duty-free channels [12]. - Domestic brands can leverage Hainan as a global launchpad, establishing a model of "R&D in Hainan, manufacturing in the mainland, and global sales" [12]. - However, challenges remain, including the need for domestic brands to differentiate their products in a competitive market dominated by international players [12].