Updated
Updated · South China Morning Post · Jul 28
China Waives Panda Bond Fees Until 2028 as Issuance Jumps 69%
Updated
Updated · South China Morning Post · Jul 28

China Waives Panda Bond Fees Until 2028 as Issuance Jumps 69%

2 articles · Updated · South China Morning Post · Jul 28

Summary

  • From September through end-2028, China plans to scrap issuance and servicing fees for Panda bonds under a draft notice from China Central Depository and Clearing.
  • The move targets yuan-denominated borrowing by foreign issuers, as Beijing tries to deepen the global yuan debt market and build a larger offshore liquidity pool.
  • Panda bond issuance rose 69% in the first half, People’s Bank of China data showed, with overseas borrowers increasingly using the market to diversify away from the US dollar.
  • Analysts said the fee waiver trims only a small share of total borrowing costs but signals stronger policy backing; EIU said 2026 issuance has already surpassed all of 2025.
  • The proposal fits what economists describe as a second phase of yuan internationalisation, shifting emphasis toward the capital account amid broader de-dollarisation trends.

Insights

Will waiving panda bond fees through 2028 meaningfully boost yuan funding, or is Beijing really signaling a bigger push for global renminbi influence?
If panda bond issuance is already surging, what reforms beyond fee cuts are needed to make the yuan a true global financing currency?