The EU officially starts the transition period for imposing "carbon tariffs", Thailand and Georgia announce visa-free entry for Chinese citizens | New foreign trade regulations in October
New foreign trade regulations in October
Overview
The tax policy for cross-border e-commerce export returns will continue to be implemented;
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has optimized the visa application form for foreigners coming to China;
Thailand and Georgia announced visa exemption for Chinese citizens;
The United States extends tariff exemptions for 352 Chinese imports and 77 epidemic prevention products;
The EU officially starts the transition period for imposing "carbon tariffs";
The European Chip Act officially came into effect;
Russia has implemented flexible export tariffs on a large number of goods that are linked to the ruble exchange rate;
South Korea revised the implementation rules of the special law on imported food safety management;
India issues two quality control orders;
Vietnam issued regulations on technical safety and quality inspection and certification of imported automobiles;
Australia releases final import requirements for prawns and prawn products for human consumption;
Azerbaijan plans to exempt some imported VAT on raw materials and materials for passenger car production.
The tax policy for cross-border e-commerce export returns will continue to be implemented
In order to support the accelerated development of new business forms and models such as cross-border e-commerce, the Ministry of Finance, the General Administration of Customs and the State Administration of Taxation recently jointly issued the "Announcement on the Continuation of the Implementation of the Tax Policy for Cross-border E-commerce Export Return Goods."
The announcement stipulates that for goods (excluding food) declared for export under the cross-border e-commerce customs supervision code (1210, 9610, 9710, 9810) between January 30, 2023 and December 31, 2025, and returned into the country in the same condition due to unsale or return within 6 months from the date of export, import tariffs and import value-added tax and consumption tax shall be exempted; export tariffs collected at the time of export shall be refunded; value-added tax and consumption tax collected at the time of export shall be implemented in accordance with the relevant tax provisions on returns of domestic sales goods; other provisions shall still be implemented in accordance with the relevant provisions of the "Announcement of the Ministry of Finance, General Administration of Customs and State Administration of Taxation on the Tax Policy for Cross-border E-commerce Export Return Goods" (Announcement No. 4 of the Ministry of Finance, General Administration of Customs and State Administration of Taxation in 2023).
The announcement extends the deadline for enterprises to declare exports under the cross-border e-commerce customs supervision code from January 29, 2024 to December 31, 2025.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs optimizes the visa application form for foreigners coming to China
To further facilitate foreigners to apply for visas to China, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China has optimized the visa application form for foreigners to China. The optimized application form involves 7 major items and 15 sub-items, mainly involving the applicant's educational background, family information, travel experience, etc., and reduces the text content to be filled in. For example, the applicant's international travel experience is shortened from 5 years to 1 year, and the educational background only needs to fill in the highest degree. The applicant's filling time will be greatly shortened, and it will be more convenient to apply for a visa to China.
Thailand and Georgia announce visa exemption for Chinese citizens
Georgian Prime Minister Garibashvili announced on September 11 that Georgia will grant visa-free treatment to Chinese citizens from now on. The Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a message saying: "From September 11, 2023, a preferential visa policy will be implemented for Chinese citizens and Chinese permanent residents. According to the new regulations, Chinese citizens and Chinese permanent residents have the right to enter Georgia without a visa and stay in Georgia for 30 days."
Thai Prime Minister Setha Thavik announced on September 13 that Thailand will implement a visa-free system for Chinese tourists from September 25 for a period of about 5 months. Setha told the media after the cabinet meeting that Thailand will exempt Chinese tourists from visas from September 25 to February 29, 2024.
The United States extends tariff exemptions for 352 Chinese imports and 77 epidemic prevention products
The Office of the United States Trade Representative announced on September 6 local time that it would further extend the 301 tariff exemption period for 352 Chinese imported products that had been restored to exemption and 77 Chinese imported products related to the prevention and control of the new coronavirus, from September 30 this year to December 31.
EU officially opens transition period for imposing "carbon tariffs"
On August 17th local time, the European Commission announced the implementation details of the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) during the transition period.
The rules will take effect from October 1 this year and will last until the end of 2025. They will be officially levied in 2026 and fully implemented before 2034.
The transitional implementation details announced by the European Commission this time are based on the "Establishment of a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism" announced by the EU in May this year. They detail the obligations of importers of products under the EU carbon border adjustment mechanism and provide a transitional method for calculating the amount of greenhouse gases released during the production of these imported products.
The rules stipulate that during the initial transition phase, importers only need to submit carbon emission information reports related to their goods without having to make any financial payments or adjustments.
After the transition period, when it fully comes into effect on January 1, 2026, importers will need to declare annually the quantity of goods imported into the EU in the previous year and the greenhouse gases they contain, and surrender the corresponding number of CBAM certificates.
The price of the certificate will be calculated based on the average weekly auction price of EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) allowances (expressed in Euros per tonne of CO2 emissions).
The phase-out of free allowances under the EU Emissions Trading System will take place in parallel with the gradual introduction of CBAM over the period 2026-2034, culminating in the complete abolition of free allowances in 2034.
In the new bill, all EU industries protected in the ETS will be granted free quotas, but the proportion of free quotas will gradually decrease from 93% to 25% from 2027 to 2031. In 2032, the proportion of free quotas will be reduced to zero, three years earlier than the withdrawal time in the original draft.
European Chip Directive officially takes effect
On September 21, local time, the European Chip Act officially came into effect. On the same day, the European Commission announced that the plan would promote the industrialization of key technologies through the "European Chip Plan" and encourage public and private enterprises to invest in the manufacturing facilities of chip manufacturers and their suppliers.
The Chip Act aims to create conditions for the development of the European semiconductor industry base, attract investment, promote research and innovation, and prepare Europe for future chip supply crises. The EU will raise 43 billion euros in public and private funds (3.3 billion euros of which will come from the EU budget), with the goal of doubling the EU's share of the global semiconductor market by 2030, from the current 10% to at least 20%.
Russia implements flexible export tariffs linked to the ruble exchange rate on a large number of goods
The Russian government press office issued an announcement on September 21 that in order to protect the domestic market, the Russian government has decided to implement flexible export tariffs on a large number of commodities from October 1 local time to the end of 2024. The tariff rate is linked to the ruble exchange rate.
The Russian government pointed out that the export tariff rate for most of the goods on the list is 4% to 7% depending on the ruble exchange rate; however, the export tariff is zero when the central bank's ruble exchange rate is lower than 80 rubles to the dollar. The export tariff rate for fertilizers is as high as 10%.
The Russian government pointed out that the measure is aimed at maintaining a reasonable relationship between exports and domestic demand and preventing unreasonable price increases in the domestic market.
South Korea amends the implementation rules of the special law on imported food safety management
The Ministry of Food and Drug Administration (MFDS) of South Korea issued Prime Minister's Decree No. 1896 to revise the implementation rules of the Special Act on Imported Food Safety Management. The rules will be implemented on September 14, 2023. The main revisions are as follows:
In order to carry out import declaration business efficiently, for foods with low public health risks and repeated imports, the import declaration can be accepted in an automated manner through the Import Food Comprehensive Information System, and the import declaration confirmation letter can be automatically issued. However, the following situations are excluded: imported foods with additional conditions, imported foods that are conditionally accepted for declaration, first-time imported foods, imported foods that should be inspected according to regulations, etc.;
If the local food and drug administration finds that the inspection results are difficult to determine as qualified by automated methods, it shall inspect the imported food in accordance with the provisions of the first paragraph of Article 30. It shall also regularly verify the integrated information system to confirm whether the automatic import declaration is normal;
Improve and supplement some deficiencies of the current system, such as relaxing facility standards and allowing housing to be used as offices when conducting e-commerce or mail-order business of imported food.
India issues two quality control orders
According to the Press Information Bureau of India, the Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of India recently issued two new quality control orders, namely the "Solar DC Cables and Fire Lifesaving Cables (Quality Control) Order (2023)" and the "Cast Iron Products (Quality Control) Order (2023)", which will officially come into effect in 6 months.
Products included in the quality control order must comply with relevant Indian standards and be affixed with the standard mark after being certified by the Bureau of Indian Standards. Otherwise, they shall not be produced, sold, traded, imported or stored.
The products covered by the Solar DC Cables and Fire and Lifesaving Cables (Quality Control) Order (2023) include interconnecting cables mainly used for various components of photovoltaic systems such as solar panel arrays. These cables are widely used in nuclear power plants, airports, subways, refineries, high-rise buildings, shopping malls, cinemas, etc.
The Cast Iron Products (Quality Control) Order (2023) mainly deals with standards related to various cast iron products such as manhole covers, cast iron pipes, malleable iron fittings and grey iron castings.
Vietnam issues regulations on technical safety and quality inspection and certification of imported automobiles
According to the decree, recalled vehicles include those recalled according to recall notices issued by manufacturers and those recalled at the request of inspection agencies, which make recall requests based on the results of verification of specific evidence and feedback on vehicle quality, technical safety and environmental protection information.
Australia releases final import requirements for prawns and prawn products for human consumption
Recently, the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry website released Notice No. 2023-A10, announcing the final import requirements for shrimp and shrimp products for human consumption. The main contents are:
All imported shrimp and shrimp products must be frozen;
All imported cooked shrimp and shrimp products must be frozen and the minimum core temperature of the product must reach 65°C during the cooking process;
Only countries or regions that have been officially assessed by Australia to be free of 10 pathogens, including decapod iridovirus, are allowed to export whole uncooked (frozen) shrimp to Australia.
This requirement will be implemented from October 30, 2023, when the new version of the health certificate for imported shrimp and shrimp products will be used simultaneously.
Azerbaijan plans to exempt some passenger car production raw materials and materials from import VAT
Azerbaijani President Aliyev signed a decree approving the exemption of import value-added tax on some raw materials and materials for passenger car production before January 1, 2031.
See the list:https://static.president.az/upload/Files/2023/07/17/37480286e9960fe5051e18a959e3f0e1_3148503.pdf (Arabic)。
Source: Focus Vision
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