"Guidelines for the Operation of Export Tax Refund (Exemption) for Cross-border E-commerce Exports from Overseas Warehouses" announced丨New Foreign Trade Regulations in October
Overview
"Guidelines for the Operation of Cross-border E-commerce Export Tax Refund (Exemption) from Overseas Warehouses" released
The State Council Tariff Commission has stopped implementing the zero tariff policy for some agricultural products imported from Taiwan.
The General Administration of Customs launched a pilot project on the railway-road multimodal transport business model for export goods
Codex Alimentarius Commission releases requirements for import and export food inspection and certification system
The United States significantly increases tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and other products
The United States adjusts its "small exemption" policy
The United States has included aluminum, silicon, PVC and other products from China in the forced/child labor list
Canada imposes tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and other products
Türkiye adopts new rules for imported electric vehicles
South Korea to make disclosure of electric vehicle battery information mandatory
South Korea requires mandatory HACCP certification for some imported foods
Russia bans sale of unlabelled light industrial goods
Russia extends simplified certification period for imported products to 2025
GCC imposes anti-dumping duties on Chinese switches, sockets and other products
India imposes tariffs on some steel products from China and Vietnam
Brazil raises import tariffs on 30 chemical products
Argentina removes technical barriers to bicycle imports
Iraq strictly checks the import of electronic equipment
01 "Guidelines for the Operation of Cross-border E-commerce Export Tax Refund (Exemption) for Overseas Warehouses" was released
The Goods and Services Tax Department of the State Administration of Taxation recently organized the compilation of the "Operational Guidelines for Export Tax Refund (Exemption) for Cross-border E-commerce Export Overseas Warehouses" (hereinafter referred to as the Guidelines) to provide detailed tax management guidance for cross-border e-commerce export overseas warehouse companies, help companies to deeply and accurately understand the export tax refund (exemption) policy regulations, and master the export tax refund (exemption) business operation procedures.
Full text of the Guidelines:
https://fgk.chinatax.gov.cn/zcfgk/c100022/c5234356/content.html
02The State Council Tariff Commission stopped implementing the zero tariff policy for some agricultural products imported from Taiwan
The Tariff Commission of the State Council recently issued an announcement stating that from September 25, 2024, the policy of exempting 34 agricultural products including fresh fruits, vegetables, aquatic products originating in Taiwan from import tariffs will be discontinued, and the import tariffs on relevant agricultural products will be implemented in accordance with current relevant regulations.
Original announcement:
http://www.gwytb.gov.cn/bmst/202409/t20240918_12651067.htm
03The General Administration of Customs launched a pilot project on the railway-road multimodal transport business model for export goods
In order to support the high-quality development of multimodal transport, adapt to the adjustment and optimization of modern logistics and transportation structure, and improve the level of customs clearance facilitation for international multimodal transport, in accordance with the Customs Law of the People's Republic of China and the Measures of the Customs of the People's Republic of China on the Supervision of Transit Goods (promulgated by the General Administration of Customs Order No. 89, amended by the General Administration of Customs Order No. 240, hereinafter referred to as the "Measures for the Supervision of Transit Goods"), the General Administration of Customs has decided to launch a pilot project for the business model of multimodal transport of export goods by rail and road.
Original announcement:
http://www.customs.gov.cn/customs/302249/2480148/6119363/index.html
04Codex Alimentarius Commission releases requirements for import and export food inspection and certification system
From September 16 to 20, 2024, the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) held the 27th Session of the Committee on Import and Export Inspection and Certification (CCFICS 27) in Australia, and the meeting issued the "Requirements for Import and Export Food Inspection and Certification System".
The main contents of the "Requirements" include: revising the "Principles and Guidelines for Remote Audit and Inspection under the Framework of Relevant Regulations"; publishing the relevant opinions of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the World Health Organization and other international organizations on the Import and Export Food Inspection and Certification System (CCFICS), emphasizing the need to strengthen capacity building in developing countries and attach importance to food control system assessment; consolidating the Codex Alimentarius Commission's guidelines on food system equivalence, requiring attention to the implementation of the "Guidelines for Recognition and Maintenance of Equivalence of Food Control Systems at the National Level"; implementing the "Guidelines for Prevention and Control of Food Fraud"; revising and updating the "Principles of Traceability/Product Tracking in Food Inspection and Certification Systems"; publishing the "Guidelines on the Application Mechanism for Refusal of Food Imports"; publishing the "Standardization Regulations on Hygiene Requirements"; reviewing and updating new developments in global food work, revising the "Principles and Guidelines for Information Exchange between Relevant Importing and Exporting Countries" to promote food trade, strengthen the digitalization of food control systems at the national level, etc.
For more details, see:
https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/sh-proxy/en/?lnk=1&url=https%253A%252F%252Fworkspace.fao.org%252Fsites%252Fcodex%252FMeetings%252FCX-733-27%252FDraft%2Breport%252FDRAFT_REP24_FICS.pdf
05The United States significantly increased tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and other products
The decision announced by the Office of the United States Trade Representative shows that the United States will impose a 100% import tariff on Chinese-made electric vehicles, a 50% tariff on Chinese-made solar cells and semiconductors, and a 25% tariff on Chinese-made steel, aluminum, electric vehicle batteries, key minerals and components.
Among them, tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles, key minerals and components will take effect on September 27 this year; the 50% tariff on semiconductors will take effect in 2025, and two new categories have been added to the tariff range, namely silicon wafers and polysilicon used in solar panels; tariffs on lithium-ion batteries, key minerals and components used in other equipment and uses will take effect on January 1, 2026.
06The United States adjusts its “small exemption” policy
On September 13, the US government officially announced that it would take action to curb the phenomenon of improper use of the "de minimis" policy, which is aimed at maintaining trade fairness and tax order. Specific adjustments include canceling the duty-free status of sensitive products, involving 70% of clothing and textiles imported from China, and canceling the duty-free status of products that may be subject to tariffs under Sections 301, 232 or 201. This move undoubtedly heralds the arrival of "profound changes" for leading companies in China's cross-border e-commerce industry.
07The United States has included aluminum, silicon, PVC and other products from China in the list of forced/child labor
The U.S. Department of Labor has added 72 items and removed four from its list of foreign-made goods that it has determined are produced with child and/or forced labor in violation of international standards. With these changes, the so-called TVPRA list now includes 204 products from 82 countries and regions.
The new products include aluminum, sodium hydroxide, dates, industrial silicon, polyvinyl chloride, and squid from China; Chinese electrolytic copper products and lithium-ion batteries from copper mines allegedly mined with child labor in the Congo; aluminum automotive parts from aluminum allegedly produced in China using forced labor; and cotton clothing, cotton textiles, and cotton yarn/thread from cotton allegedly produced in China using forced labor. In addition, the updated list also includes Vietnamese cotton clothing allegedly made from cotton produced in China using forced labor.
08Canada imposes tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and other products
The Canadian government announced that starting from October 1 this year, a 100% additional tax will be imposed on all electric vehicles manufactured in China, including electric and some hybrid passenger cars, trucks, buses and passenger and cargo vehicles. This 100% additional tax will be levied in addition to the current 6.1% tariff imposed by Canada on electric vehicles manufactured in China.
In addition, the Canadian government plans to impose an additional tax of 25% on steel and aluminum products imported from China starting from October 15 this year. The Canadian side said that one of the purposes of this move is to prevent trade diversion caused by recent actions taken by Canada's trading partners.
09Turkey adopts new regulations on imported electric vehicles
On September 20, the Turkish Ministry of Trade set strict conditions for plug-in hybrid vehicles imported from China and other countries, requiring importers to have 20 authorized service stores in seven different locations in the country. The regulations will take effect in 30 days. This is another move by Turkey after restricting the import of electric vehicles in June this year. Analysts said that no importer can meet these conditions at present, which will put pressure on Chinese automakers.
Türkiye has previously imposed high tariffs on imported electric vehicles.
10South Korea compels disclosure of electric vehicle battery information
The South Korean government decided on September 6, 2024 to make it mandatory to disclose electric vehicle battery information and implement a series of other countermeasures to ease growing concerns about electric vehicle fires.
According to the government plan, the electric vehicle battery certification system, which was originally scheduled to take effect in February next year, will be trial-run ahead of schedule in October, which means that the government will conduct safety checks on batteries for domestic and foreign electric vehicles before they are produced. In addition to the battery capacity, rated voltage and maximum output currently required, electric vehicle manufacturers will also need to disclose key information about the battery, including the battery brand and main ingredients.
In routine inspections of electric vehicles, inspection items will be increased to include battery voltage, battery temperature, charge level, etc., and inspection stations will be equipped with corresponding equipment and infrastructure as soon as possible. The responsibilities of electric vehicle manufacturers and charging companies will also be strengthened by excluding manufacturers that do not have liability insurance from government subsidies and promoting legislation to force electric vehicle charging companies to purchase liability insurance.
At the same time, the government will update the battery management system (BMS), which can detect and issue battery condition warnings in real time, and increase its use among drivers to better detect fire risks in advance.
11HACCP certification is mandatory for some imported foods in South Korea
Recently, the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Administration (MFDS) announced that it will require some imported foods to be subject to mandatory HACCP certification. From October 1, 2024, all overseas manufacturers of cabbage kimchi will need to obtain imported food HACCP certification before they can be imported and cleared. (Kimchi mainly refers to cabbage pickled as the main raw material, mixed with various seasonings, and fermented or processed.)
For more details, please visit: https://impfood.mfds.go.kr/CFBCC04F02/getCntntsDetail?cntntsSn=574493&cntntsMngId=00019
12Russia bans the sale of unlabeled light industrial goods
The Russian government's amendments to ban the sale of unlabeled light industrial products will take effect on September 15. The new measures involve product types including trousers, tops, skirts, dresses, sports jackets, blouses and shirts, sportswear and ski suits, coats, shawls, scarves and ties, as well as some other clothing accessories. Before this, if these products were produced or imported into Russia before April 1, 2024, they were allowed to circulate and withdraw from circulation. From this day on, light industrial products will be subject to mandatory labeling.
13 Russia extends simplified certification period for imported products to 2025
The Russian government has decided to extend the simplified certification procedure for imported and domestically circulated products that comply with technical regulations and national standards until September 1, 2025, in an effort to continue to reduce the burden on companies and lower the risk of inferior products entering the market.
It is reported that from March 2022, goods can provide a declaration of conformity based on their own evidence through a simplified procedure, avoiding lengthy laboratory tests, and buying companies six months to confirm product compliance. In the context of sanctions, this measure has proven to be effective, so the government decided to extend its implementation period to continue to promote trade facilitation and healthy market development.
14 GCC imposes anti-dumping duties on Chinese switches, sockets and other products
On August 20, the Technical Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council's International Trade Anti-Injury Actions issued an announcement, making a final anti-dumping ruling on electrical connectors, switches, sockets and plugs with a voltage not exceeding 1,000 volts imported from China, and decided to impose an anti-dumping duty of 11.3% to 42% on the products involved on a CIF basis from September 26, 2024, and the measure will be valid for five years. The GCC unified tariff numbers of the products involved are 853669, 853650, 85444291 and 85444221.
15India imposes additional tariffs on some steel products from China and Vietnam
An order issued by the Indian Ministry of Finance on September 10 local time showed that India will impose tariffs of 12% to 30% on some steel products imported from China and Vietnam "to protect and promote local industries." Reuters pointed out that this means that in the next five years, India will impose tariffs on welded stainless steel pipes exported from China, the world's largest steel producer, and Vietnam.
16Brazil raises import tariffs on 30 chemical products
In response to the demands of the Brazilian Chemical Products Industry Association (ABIQUIM), on September 18, the Brazilian Foreign Trade Commission approved an increase in import taxes on 30 chemical products from the original minimum tariff rate of 7.6% to 20%. The measure will be valid for one year.
According to previous media reports, the association released data showing that the idle rate of domestic petrochemical plants reached a record high of 58% in May this year. In order to boost the local industry, the association asked the government to increase import tariffs on 65 chemical products. Although the Brazilian government has only taken measures on less than half of the chemical products, the association believes that the effect will be "immediate" and that domestic products are expected to return to 80% in the next few years.
17 Argentina removes technical barriers to bicycle imports
According to a report by El Financiero on September 12, the Argentine Secretariat of Industry and Trade issued Resolution No. 274/2024 in the government's Official Gazette on the 12th, abolishing relevant technical regulations on bicycle imports and canceling the relevant product manufacturer certification and product sample testing procedures. The Argentine government hopes to eliminate foreign trade technical barriers, simplify bicycle import procedures, stimulate the vitality of free competition in the Argentine domestic market, and promote a significant reduction in the price of bicycles in the Argentine domestic market.
18Iraq strictly checks the import of electronic equipment
In mid-September, following widespread pager explosions in Lebanon, Iraq expressed its intention to strengthen border management to avoid any "infiltration" or security risks, especially in the import of "electronic equipment." According to the communiqué released, "the Council of Ministers called on border crossings to take all necessary precautions to avoid any potential infiltration." The communiqué also called for "strict security checks on imported products, especially electronic equipment, and to ensure that contracts are signed with reputable companies."
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Source: Focus Vision