New foreign trade regulations to be implemented in 2022 (Part 1)

1. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) takes effect

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) takes effect on January 1, 2022. On January 1, 2022, RCEP will be the first to be implemented in 6 ASEAN member countries including Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and 4 countries including China, Japan, New Zealand and Australia. The remaining 5 countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Myanmar, South Korea) will also be included in the entry into force after completing the approval process.

In the latest news, South Korea formally submitted the approval letter to the ASEAN Secretariat (the custodian of the agreement) the next day，after the National Assembly met on December 2, 2021 to approve the RCEP approval. The Secretariat informed on the same day that it is expected that RCEP will take effect for South Korea on February 1, 2022.  

As the world's largest free trade area, after the RCEP agreement takes effect, more than 90% of the trade in goods among the approved members will achieve zero tariffs eventually. For foreign trade companies, this is a huge bonus. After RCEP takes effect, nearly 30% of China's exports can achieve zero-tariff treatment, covering China's $1.4 trillion in trade volume.

2. China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and local agencies fully support the issuance of RCEP certificates of origin

A few days ago, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade issued a notice that the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and local agencies fully support the issuance of the RCEP certificate of origin.

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (hereinafter referred to as "RCEP") will come into effect on January 1, 2022. The implementing members include China, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, and New Zealand. and Australia.

From January 1, 2022, in accordance with the relevant provisions of RCEP and the "Administrative Measures for the Origin of Imported and Exported Goods under the Customs of the People's Republic of China", the applicant can apply to the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and its local The visa agency for the issuance of certificates of origin and back-to-back certificates of origin under RCEP, and the exported goods with the above certificates are entitled to preferential tariff treatment in RCEP members in accordance with the relevant regulations of RCEP.

Certificates of origin and back-to-back certificates of origin exported to Singapore, Thailand, Japan, New Zealand and Australia under the CCPIT RCEP will be fully electronically issued, providing independent certificate printing services; certificates of origin exported to Brunei, Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia are temporarily Electronic signatures are not used, and certificates need to be signed and stamped manually.

The certificate of origin and back-to-back certificate of origin issuance service under CCPIT RCEP will be provided free of charge through the CCPIT online visa department http://qiye.ccpiteco.net. At the same time, applicants can also apply through a third-party platform that has realized data connection with the CCPIT Online Visa System of Origin (please refer to the official website: http://co.ccpit.org for relevant information).

3. China adjusts import and export tariffs on some commodities

On December 15, 2021, the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council issued the.

From January 1, 2022, China will implement provisional import tax rates lower than the most-favored-nation tax rate on 954 items. From January 1, 2022, according to domestic industrial development and changes in supply and demand, within the scope of China's accession to the World Trade Organization, the import and export tariffs of some commodities will be increased. Among them, the temporary import tax rate for some amino acids, lead-acid battery parts, gelatin, pork, m-cresol, etc. was cancelled, and the implementation of the most-favored-nation tax rate was resumed. In order to promote the transformation, upgrading and high-quality development of related industries, the export tariffs on phosphorus and blister copper were raised.

According to the free trade agreements and preferential trade arrangements signed between China and relevant countries or regions, some commodities originating in 29 countries or regions will be subject to agreed tax rates in 2022. Among them, China and New Zealand, Peru, Costa Rica, Switzerland, Iceland, South Korea, Australia, Pakistan, Georgia, Mauritius and other bilateral free trade agreements and the Asia-Pacific trade agreement will further reduce taxes. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), China - Cambodia Free Trade Agreement will take effect on January 1, 2022 and implement tax reduction.

According to the content of therevised by the World Customs Organization and the relevant rules of the World Trade Organization, the technical conversion of tariff items and rates will be carried out in 2022. At the same time, in order to meet the needs of industrial development and facilitate trade supervision, some tariff items will be adjusted. After adjustment, the total number of tariff items is 8,930.

4. Some anti-dumping and countervailing measures will expire in 2022

On December 29, 2021, the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China issued a notice on the expiry of some anti-dumping and anti-subsidy measures in 2022: The expiration date of the three types of products involving POM, caprolactam, and potato starch involving the five major countries (regions) of South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, the European Union, and the United States is October 23, 2022 at the latest. The announcement is attached with the.

5.Implementation of the <Administrative Measures for Approved Exporters by the Customs of the People's Republic of China>

On November 23, 2021, the General Administration of Customs announced the <Administrative Measures of the Customs of the People's Republic of China for Approved Exporters> (hereinafter referred to as the "Measures") (Order No. 254 of the General Administration of Customs), which will be effective from January 1, 2022. implement.

The approved exporter system refers to the system in which enterprises recognized by the customs can independently issue a declaration of origin and enjoy preferential treatment under the preferential trade agreement.

In order to effectively implement the approved exporter management system under the preferential trade agreements concluded or acceded to by the People's Republic of China, regulate the origin management of exported goods, and promote foreign trade, in accordance with <the Free Trade Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of Iceland > <the These Measures are formulated in accordance with the provisions of the Swiss Confederation Free Trade Agreement> < the Free Trade Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Mauritius> <the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement > (hereinafter collectively referred to as "relevant preferential trade agreements").

6. The filing of Customs declaration enterprises is included in the "multi-certificate-in-one" reform

From January 1, 2022, the filing of Customs declaration enterprises has been officially incorporated into the "multi-certificate-in-one" reform, realizing "one application, one processing". This reform is a concrete measure taken by the Customs to deepen the reform of “ delegating power and improving services”, optimizing the business environment at ports, and further stimulating enterprises to participate in international import and export business activities.

After the implementation of this reform, when the applicant goes through the registration of market entities with the market supervision department,if it is necessary to go through the filing of Customs declaration enterprises at the same time, check the filing of Customs declaration enterprises as required, and fill in the relevant filing information. The market supervision department completes the registration according to the "multi-certificate integration" process, and completes the data sharing with the General Administration of Customs at the level of the State Administration for Market Regulation . There is no need to submit a filing application to the Customs. For enterprises that do not choose the "multi-certificate-in-one" method to submit the application, they can still submit the filing application for Customs declaration enterprises through the international trade "single window" or "Internet + Customs".