New foreign trade regulations in June

Overview

 

my country and the Philippines will implement mutual RCEP tariff concessions starting from June 2

China and Ecuador sign free trade agreement

Customs releases announcement on mutual recognition of AEO between China and Uganda

The General Administration of Customs and Uzbekistan signed an AEO mutual recognition arrangement

Zhejiang issued 33 measures to expand markets, increase orders and stabilize foreign trade

Nigeria raises import tariffs on a number of products

The United States resumes imposing 301 tariffs on four products

Brazil exempts import tariffs on 628 types of machinery and equipment products

Argentina suspends some anti-dumping measures

Mexico makes preliminary anti-dumping ruling on China's rigid polyvinyl chloride

South Korea imposes anti-dumping duties on PET films from China

Korea updates K-REACH existing substances pre-registration list

Thailand extends suspension of tax on steel coils from China

Australia bans import of all over-the-counter e-cigarettes

Saudi SASO adds some new product control requirements

Bangladesh includes 37 products in the compulsory certification list

 

my country and the Philippines will implement mutual RCEP tariff concessions starting from June 2

 

The Tariff Commission of the State Council recently issued an announcement stating that from June 2, 2023, the agreement tariff rates applicable to RCEP ASEAN member countries will be implemented on some imported goods originating in the Philippines, and the subsequent annual tariff rates will be implemented from January 1 of that year.

After RCEP officially takes effect in the Philippines, in the field of goods trade, the Philippines willNew zero tariff treatment for my country's automobiles and auto parts, some plastic products, textiles and clothing, air conditioners and washing machines, etc.After a certain transition period, the tariffs on the above products will be gradually reduced from 3%-30% to zero.

After RCEP came into effect for the Philippines, all 15 members completed the entry-into-force procedures and implemented tariff concessions with each other, and the agreement entered a new stage of full implementation.

 

China and Ecuador sign free trade agreement

 

On May 11, the Free Trade Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Ecuador was officially signed.

The China-Ecuador Free Trade Agreement is the 20th free trade agreement signed by China. Ecuador has become China's 27th free trade partner and the fourth free trade partner of China in Latin America after Chile, Peru and Costa Rica.

In terms of tariff concessions on goods trade, the two sides have reached a mutually beneficial and win-win result on a high level. According to the concession arrangement, China and Ecuador will cancel tariffs on 90% of the tariff items, of which about 60% of the tariff items will be canceled immediately after the agreement takes effect.

In terms of exports, which are of general concern to foreign trade people,Ecuador will implement zero tariffs on China's major export products. After the agreement comes into effect, when most products produced in China, such as plastic products, chemical fibers, steel products, machinery and equipment, electrical equipment, furniture and decoration, automobiles and parts, enter the Ecuadorian market, tariffs will be gradually reduced and eliminated based on the current 5%-40%.

 

Customs releases announcement on mutual recognition of AEO between China and Uganda

 

In May 2021, the customs of China and Uganda officially signed the "Arrangement between the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China and the Revenue Authority of the Republic of Uganda on the Mutual Recognition of the Enterprise Credit Management System of China Customs and the AEO System of the Uganda Revenue Authority" (hereinafter referred to as the "Mutual Recognition Arrangement"), and decided to formally implement it from June 1, 2023.

According to the Mutual Recognition Arrangement, China and Ukraine recognize each other's "Authorized Economic Operator" (AEO) and provide customs clearance convenience for goods imported from the other party's AEO enterprises.
The customs of China and Ukraine provide each other's AEO enterprises with the following customs clearance convenience measures when clearing imported goods:

• A lower document review rate applies;
• Apply lower inspection rates;
• Priority will be given to goods that require physical inspection;
• Appoint a customs liaison officer to communicate and handle problems encountered by AEO enterprises during customs clearance;
• Priority clearance will be given to international trade once it is disrupted and resumed.

When Chinese AEO enterprises export goods to Uganda, they need to inform the Ugandan importer of the AEO code (AEOCN + 10-digit enterprise code registered and filed with the Chinese Customs, such as AEOCN1234567890), and the importer will declare it in accordance with the regulations of the Uganda Customs. The Uganda Customs will confirm the identity of the Chinese Customs AEO enterprise and provide relevant convenience measures.

 

The General Administration of Customs and Uzbekistan signed an AEO mutual recognition arrangement

 

On May 18, China Customs became the first "Authorized Economic Operator" (AEO) mutual recognition partner of Uzbekistan Customs.

After the implementation of the Mutual Recognition Arrangement, AEO enterprises of the two countries will enjoy convenient measures such as lower import goods inspection rate, priority inspection for goods that require physical inspection, establishment of enterprise coordinators, and priority customs clearance after the interruption and resumption of international trade, which will help AEO enterprises shorten the customs clearance time and reduce the company's warehousing, logistics and other trade costs.

This "Mutual Recognition Arrangement" is the fourth AEO mutual recognition agreement signed by the General Administration of Customs this year.

As of now, China has signed AEO mutual recognition agreements with 52 countries (regions) in 26 economies, including Singapore, South Korea, and the European Union. Among them, the number of countries participating in the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative has increased to 35. China ranks first in the world in terms of the number of mutual recognition agreements signed and the number of mutual recognition countries (regions).

 

Zhejiang issued 33 measures to expand markets, increase orders and stabilize foreign trade

 

The General Office of the Zhejiang Provincial Government issued the "Measures to Expand the Market, Increase Orders and Stabilize Foreign Trade", which proposed 33 measures to expand the market, stabilize the stock and strengthen the guarantee, promote the stability and quality of foreign trade and accelerate the construction of a strong trade province. It is proposed to carry out the "global store opening", "brand overseas" and "independent station leading" actions of cross-border e-commerce, and add more than 10,000 cross-border e-commerce export online stores in 2023. Carry out the "100 venues and 10,000 enterprises" e-commerce market expansion action, and newly evaluate a batch of well-known cross-border e-commerce export brands, with a total of more than 200. Support cross-border e-commerce enterprises to register domestic trademarks of different categories for foreign brands.

Full text: https://www.zj.gov.cn/art/2023/5/25/art_1229219283_60132276.html

 

Nigeria raises import tariffs on a number of products

 

Nigeria, Africa's largest economy, recently passed new fiscal policy measures (FPMs) for 2023, involving a number of import tariff adjustments and adjustments to the prohibited import list.

1. Imported vehicles

 An additional import adjustment tax will be levied on motor vehicles in 2023 and 2024, with a tax rate of 2% for vehicles 2000cc–3999cc and 4% for vehicles 4000cc and above.
Vehicles below 2,000cc, buses, electric vehicles and locally produced vehicles are exempted. The new rules will take effect from June 1, 2023.

2. Alcoholic Beverages

From June 1, 2023, additional excise taxes on alcoholic beverages, tobacco, wine and spirits will increase by between 20% and 100% on top of previously approved rates.
Excise duty on non-alcoholic beverages remains at N10 per litre.

Prior to the new rates, the government applied an ad valorem rate on imported alcoholic beverages, a tax or duty levied on the estimated value of the goods or transactions in question.

3. Plastic products

A “green tax” on single-use plastics (SUPs), including a 10% excise duty on plastic containers, films and bags.
Other plastic products such as plastic plates, sheets, films, foils and tapes, polymers, styrenics, and copy paper (printed and non-printed) have also had their import excise duties increased.

 

The United States resumes imposing 301 tariffs on four products

 

At the beginning of the year, due to the continued need for domestic response to the new crown, the Office of the United States Trade Representative decided to extend the 301 tariff exclusion clauses for 81 medical-related Chinese products until May.

After May 31, 2023, 4 of the original 81 excluded products will resume the imposition of 301 tariffs, and 77 will continue to be exempted until September 30, 2023, and will be marked with the new exclusion identification code 9903.88.68.

4 products resume levying 301 tariffs:

• ① 3923.21.0095
• ② 5603.14.9090
• ③ 4818.90.0000 prior to July 1, 2020; 4818.90.0020 or 4818.90.0080 effective July 1, 2020
• ④Protective Articles (described in statistical reporting number 9004.90.0000 prior to January 1, 2021; described in statistical reporting number 9004.90.0010 or 9004.90.0090 effective January 1, 2021)

 

Brazil exempts import tariffs on 628 types of machinery and equipment products

 

On May 9, local time, the Executive Management Committee of the Brazilian Foreign Trade Commission decided to exempt 628 types of machinery and equipment products from import tariffs, and the tax exemption measures will last until December 31, 2025. The committee said that the tax exemption policy will allow companies to import machinery and equipment products worth more than US$800 million, and companies from metallurgy, electricity, gas, automobile manufacturing, papermaking and other industries will benefit.

It is reported that among the 628 types of machinery and equipment products, 564 are in the manufacturing industry and 64 are in the information technology and communication industry. Before the implementation of the duty-free policy, Brazil's import tariff on such products was 11%.

 

Argentina suspends some anti-dumping measures

 

The Argentine government has decided to suspend current anti-dumping measures on some products to facilitate domestic manufacturers to import raw materials needed to manufacture basic products and reduce import and overall supply chain costs.

The products for which anti-dumping measures are suspended include:

 Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) raw materials needed to make plastic containers;

• Toluene diisocyanate (TDI) for the production of mattress foam;
• Plasticizer (DOP);
• Substances such as sodium benzoate (preservative) added to soft drinks, juices and food preservation;
• Pesticides for controlling pests and diseases in citrus crops;
• Glass wool for making thermal and acoustic insulation materials;
• Polyester resin (also known as polyurethane glue) and zinc oxide, etc.

 

Mexico makes preliminary anti-dumping ruling on China's rigid polyvinyl chloride

 

On May 9, 2023, the Mexican Ministry of Economy issued an announcement, making a preliminary anti-dumping ruling on rigid polyvinyl chloride (Spanish: película rígida de polímero de cloruro de vinilo, rígida de PVC/PVC rígido) originating from China, regardless of the source of import, and ruling to impose a provisional anti-dumping duty of 57.63% on the products involved. The announcement will take effect from the day after it is issued.

The products involved in the case are transparent or colored, single-layer, rigid polyvinyl chloride rolls, sheets, films and strips polymerized with other monomers, with a plasticizer content of less than 6%, involving products under TIGIE tariff number 3920.49.99.

 

South Korea imposes anti-dumping duties on PET films from China

 

On May 8, 2023, the Ministry of Strategy and Finance of South Korea issued Announcement No. 2023-99. According to Order No. 992 of the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, anti-dumping duties will continue to be imposed on polyethylene terephthalate or PET film (PET) imported from China and India for a period of five years from now on.

This case involves products under Korean tariff numbers 3920.62.0000 and 3920.69.0000.

 

Korea updates K-REACH existing substances pre-registration list

 

The Korean Ministry of Environment (MOE) has updated the pre-registration list of existing substances under K-REACH. According to the latest list as of the end of the first quarter of 2023, 117 new substances have been added compared to the previous update.

For these 117 substances, anyone exporting 1 ton or more to South Korea can apply for pre-registration first.

The list includes:

• Substance name, CAS number;
• The number of pre-registration applications for each substance;
• Estimated annual production/import tonnage;
• Carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction (CMR);
• Whether it is for consumer use;
• Hazard classification and labelling.

 

Thailand extends suspension of tax on steel coils from China

 

On May 11, 2023, the Dumping and Subsidy Review Committee of Thailand issued an announcement stating that in view of the interests of domestic industries, consumers and the public interest, it has decided to extend the suspension of taxation on Wuxi steel sheets and tin-coated steel sheets and coils originating in China for another 6 months, until November 10, 2023, unless otherwise specified by the Committee. The announcement will take effect from the date of publication.

Galvanized or chrome-plated steel coils that are painted, laminated or printed are not subject to tax. The Thai customs codes of the products involved are 7210.50.00.021, 7210.50.00.022, 7210.50.00.023, 7210.50.00.024, 7210.50.00.025, 7210.50.00.026, 7210.50.00.029, 7210.50.00.090.

 

Australia bans import of all over-the-counter e-cigarettes

 

As part of the most aggressive tobacco control campaign in more than a decade, the Australian government announced on May 2 that it will introduce a series of regulatory measures to combat the further spread of e-cigarettes among young people. It is reported that although the Australian government explicitly stipulates that e-cigarettes can only be legally sold with a prescription, due to poor industry supervision, e-cigarettes have become popular among young people in cities as a recreational product in the past few years.

To address this issue, Australian Health Minister Butler announced that Australia will ban the import and sale of all over-the-counter e-cigarettes.

 

Saudi SASO adds some new product control requirements

 

The Saudi Arabian Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) issued a notice that new control requirements for some products will be added from May 10, 2023. When importers submit applications for product batch certificates (SCoC) through the SABER platform, they need to attach an importer statement approved by the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources and commit to comply with the statement. Otherwise, they will not be able to obtain the certificate on the SABER platform.

The newly added product range that needs to comply with the new regulations is as follows:

• Tiles (69072300);
• Paints and varnishes (32089090);
• Carpet (57024210).

 

Thailand extends suspension of tax on steel coils from China

 

Bangladesh Institute of Standards and Testing has decided to include 37 products in the list of compulsory certification products.

It is reported that the products newly included in the compulsory certification include: pressure cookers, liquefied petroleum gas cylinders, microwave ovens, asphalt, green tea, soy sauce, chutney, cakes, malt foods, malt beverages, cheese, hair cream, facial masks, glycerin soap, industrial safety helmets, silk, mosquito nets, lead-acid traction batteries, toothbrushes, sacks for packaging grain, etc.

As of now, the number of products included in the compulsory certification list of the Bangladesh Institute of Standards and Testing is 239.

 

Source: Focus Vision

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