List of new regulations on foreign trade in March: many countries lifted restrictions on entry to China, Since some countries can use antigen detection to replace nucleic acid in China, the State Administration of Taxation has issued the 2023A version of the export tax rebate rate library, the Announcement on the Tax Policy for Export Returns of Cross-border Electronic Commerce, the Notice on Further Improving the Export Control of Dual-use Items, and the 2023 Administration Catalogue of Import and Export Licenses for Dual-use Items and Technologies The exchange between the mainland and Hong Kong and Macao has been fully resumed. The United States has extended the exemption period of 81 Chinese goods from the imposition of tariffs. The European Chemical Administration has published the PFAS restriction draft. The United Kingdom has announced that the use of the CE mark has been postponed. Finland has strengthened the food import control. The GCC has made a final tax decision on the anti-dumping investigation of superabsorbent polymer products. The United Arab Emirates has imposed a certification fee on international imports. Algeria has forced the use of bar codes for consumer goods. The Philippines has officially ratified the RCEP agreement
1. Many countries have lifted restrictions on entry into China, and some countries can use antigen detection to replace nucleic acid
From February 13, Singapore lifted all border control measures against COVID-19 infection. Those who have not completed the COVID-19 vaccination are not required to show the report of negative nucleic acid test results when entering the country. Short term visitors do not have to buy COVID-19 travel insurance, but they still have to declare their health through the Singapore Electronic Entry Card before entering the country.
On February 16, the Swedish presidency of the European Union issued a statement saying that the 27 countries of the European Union had reached a consensus and agreed to “phase out” the epidemic restriction measures for passengers from China. By the end of February, the European Union will cancel the requirement for passengers from China to provide a negative nucleic acid test certificate, and will stop the nucleic acid sampling of passengers entering China before the middle of March. At present, France, Spain, Sweden and other countries have canceled the entry restrictions for passengers departing from China.
On February 16, the Agreement between the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Maldives on Mutual Visa Exemption entered into force. Chinese citizens who hold valid Chinese passports and plan to stay in Maldives for no more than 30 days due to short-term reasons such as tourism, business, family visit, transit, etc., may be exempted from visa application.
The South Korean government has decided to lift the COVID-19 landing inspection obligation for inbound personnel from China as of March 1, as well as the restrictions on flights from China landing at Incheon International Airport. However, when traveling from China to South Korea: show the negative report of nucleic acid test within 48 hours or rapid antigen test within 24 hours before boarding, and log in Q-CODE to input the required personal information. These two entry policies will continue until March 10, and then confirm whether to cancel after passing the assessment.
Japan will relax the COVID-19 epidemic prevention measures for inbound passengers from China from March 1, and the COVID-19 epidemic prevention detection measures for inbound passengers from China will be changed from the current overall detection to random sampling. At the same time, passengers still need to submit a negative certificate of COVID-19 detection within 72 hours upon entry.
In addition, the website of the Chinese Embassy in New Zealand and the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia respectively issued a notice on the requirements for epidemic prevention and control of passengers from New Zealand and Malaysia to China on February 27. From March 1, 2023, people on non-stop flights from New Zealand and Malaysia to China are allowed to replace nucleic acid detection with antigen detection (including self-test with reagent kit).
2. The State Administration of Taxation issued the 2023A version of the export tax rebate rate library
On February 13, 2023, the State Administration of Taxation (SAT) issued the SZCLH [2023] No. 12 document, and the SAT prepared the latest export tax rebate rate of version A in 2023 according to the adjustment of import and export tariff and customs commodity code.
Original notice:
http://www.chinatax.gov.cn/chinatax/n377/c5185269/content.html
3. Announcement on the Tax Policy of Export Returned Goods of Cross-border E-commerce
In order to reduce the cost of export return of cross-border e-commerce enterprises and actively support the development of new business forms of foreign trade, the Ministry of Finance, the General Administration of Customs and the State Administration of Taxation jointly issued the Announcement on the Tax Policy of Export Return Goods of Cross-border E-commerce (hereinafter referred to as the Announcement).
The Announcement stipulates that the goods (excluding food) declared for export under the cross-border e-commerce customs supervision code (1210, 9610, 9710, 9810) within one year from the date of issuance of the Announcement and returned to the country in their original state due to unsalable and return reasons within six months from the date of export are exempt from import tariff, import value-added tax and consumption tax; The export tariff levied at the time of export is allowed to be refunded; The value-added tax and consumption tax levied at the time of export shall be implemented with reference to the relevant tax provisions on the return of domestic goods. The export tax refund handled shall be paid in accordance with the current regulations.
This means that some goods returned to China in their original state within 6 months from the date of export due to unsalable sales and return can be returned to China with “zero tax burden”.
Original text of the Announcement:
http://www.chinatax.gov.cn/chinatax/n377/c5184003/content.html
4. Release of the Notice on Further Improving the Export Control of Dual-use Items
On February 12, 2023, the General Office of the Ministry of Commerce issued the Notice on Further Improving the Export Control of Dual-use Items.
Original text of the Notice:
http://www.mofcom.gov.cn/article/zwgk/gkzcfb/202302/20230203384654.shtml
Catalogue for the Administration of Import and Export Licenses of Dual-Use Items and Technologies in 2023
http://images.mofcom.gov.cn/aqygzj/202212/20221230192140395.pdf
Full resumption of personnel exchanges between the mainland and Hong Kong and Macao
From 0:00 on February 6, 2023, the contact between the mainland and Hong Kong and Macao will be fully restored, the scheduled customs clearance arrangement through the land port of Guangdong and Hong Kong will be cancelled, the quota of customs clearance personnel will not be set, and the tourism business activities between the mainland residents and Hong Kong and Macao will be resumed.
With regard to nucleic acid requirements, the notice shows that people entering from Hong Kong and Macao, if they have no history of living in foreign countries or other overseas regions within 7 days, do not need to enter the country with the negative nucleic acid test results of COVID-19 infection before leaving; If there is a history of living in foreign countries or other overseas regions within 7 days, the government of Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Region shall check the negative certificate of nucleic acid test for COVID-19 infection 48 hours before their departure, and if the result is negative, they shall be released into the mainland.
Original notice:
http://www.gov.cn/xinwen/2023-02/03/content_5739900.htm
6. The United States extended the exemption period for 81 Chinese goods
On February 2, local time, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced that it had decided to temporarily extend the period of validity of the exemption of tariffs on 81 medical protection products imported from China to the United States by 75 days until May 15, 2023.
These 81 medical protection products include: disposable plastic filter, disposable electrocardiogram (ECG) electrode, fingertip pulse oximeter, sphygmomanometer, otoscope, anesthesia mask, X-ray examination table, X-ray tube shell and its components, polyethylene film, metal sodium, powdery silicon monoxide, disposable gloves, man-made fiber non-woven fabric, hand sanitizer pump bottle, plastic container for disinfection wipes, double-eye optical microscope for retest Compound optical microscope, transparent plastic mask, disposable plastic sterile curtain and cover, disposable shoe cover and boot cover, cotton abdominal cavity surgical sponge, disposable medical mask, protective equipment, etc.
This exclusion is valid from March 1, 2023 to May 15, 2023.
7. Draft restrictions on the publication of PFAS by the European Chemicals Administration
The PFAS (perfluorinated and polyfluoroalkyl substances) restriction proposal prepared by the authorities of Denmark, Germany, Finland, Norway and Sweden was submitted to the European Chemical Administration (ECHA) on January 13, 2023. The proposal aims to reduce the exposure of PFAS to the environment and make products and processes safer. The Scientific Committee on Risk Assessment (RAC) and the Scientific Committee on Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC) of ECHA will check whether the proposal meets the statutory requirements of REACH at the meeting in March 2023. If adopted, the Committee will begin to conduct a scientific evaluation of the proposal. It is planned to start the six-month consultation from March 22, 2023.
Due to its extremely stable chemical structure and unique chemical characteristics, as well as its water and oil resistance, PFAS has been highly favored by manufacturers for a long time. It will be used in the production of tens of thousands of products, including automobiles, textiles, medical equipment and non-stick pans.
If the draft is finally adopted, it will have a huge impact on China’s fluorine chemical industry.
8. The UK announced the extension of the use of the CE mark
In order to make full preparations for the compulsory implementation of the UKCA logo, the British government has announced that it will continue to recognize the CE logo in the next two years, and enterprises can continue to use the CE logo before December 31, 2024. Before this date, UKCA logo and CE logo can be used, and enterprises can flexibly choose which logo to use.
The UK Government has previously launched the UK Conformity Assessed (UKCA) logo as part of the UK regulatory framework to help ensure that products meet the regulatory requirements of consumer safety protection. Products with UKCA logo indicate that these products comply with UK regulations and are used when sold in Great Britain (i.e. England, Scotland and Wales).
In view of the current difficult overall economic environment, the British government extended the original implementation period to help enterprises reduce costs and burden.
9. Finland strengthens food import control
On January 13, 2023, according to the Finnish Food Administration, the organic products imported from outside the European Union and the countries of origin were subject to more in-depth monitoring, and all batches of organic imported food documents from January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023 were carefully examined.
The customs will take samples from each batch according to the risk assessment of pesticide residue control. The selected batches of goods are still stored in the warehouse approved by the customs, and are forbidden to be transferred until the analysis results are received.
Strengthen the control of the product groups and countries of origin involving the Common Nomenclature (CN) as follows: (1) China: 0910110020060010, ginger (2) China: 0709939012079996129995, pumpkin seeds; (3) China: 23040000, soybeans (beans, cakes, flour, slate, etc.); (4) China: 0902 20 00, 0902 40 00, tea (different grades).
10. The GCC made a final decision on the anti-dumping investigation of superabsorbent polymer products
The Technical Secretariat of the GCC International Trade Anti-Dumping Practices recently issued an announcement to make a positive final decision on the anti-dumping case of acrylic polymers, in primary forms (super absorbent polymers) – mainly used for diapers and sanitary napkins for infants or adults, imported from China, South Korea, Singapore, France and Belgium.
Decides to impose anti-dumping duties on Saudi Arabian ports for five years from March 4, 2023. The customs tariff number of the products involved in the case is 39069010, and the tax rate of the products involved in the case in China is 6% – 27.7%.
11. The United Arab Emirates imposes certification fees on international imports
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the United Arab Emirates (MoFAIC) announced that all imported goods entering the United Arab Emirates must be accompanied by invoices certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, which will take effect from February 1, 2023.
From February, any invoices for international imports with a value of AED10000 or more must be certified by MoFAIC.
MoFAIC will charge 150 dirhams for each imported commodity invoice with a value of 10000 dirhams or more.
In addition, MoFAIC will charge a fee of 2000 dirhams for the certification of commercial documents, and 150 dirhams for each individual identity document, certification document or invoice copy, certificate of origin, manifest and other relevant documents.
If the goods fail to prove the certificate of origin and invoice of imported goods within 14 days from the date of entry into the UAE, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation will impose an administrative penalty of 500 dirhams on the corresponding individuals or enterprises. If the violation is repeated, more fines will be imposed.
12. Algeria enforces the use of bar codes for consumer goods
From March 29, 2023, Algeria will prohibit the introduction of any locally manufactured or imported products without bar codes in the domestic market, and all imported products must also be accompanied by their country’s bar codes. Algeria’s Inter-Ministerial Order No. 23 on March 28, 2021 stipulates the conditions and procedures for pasting bar codes on consumer products, which are applicable to locally manufactured or imported food and pre-packaged non-food products.
At present, more than 500000 products in Algeria have barcodes, which can be used to trace the process from production to sales. The code representing Algeria is 613. At present, there are 25 countries in Africa that implement bar codes. It is expected that all African countries will enforce bar codes by the end of 2023.
13. The Philippines officially ratified the RCEP agreement
On February 21, the Philippine Senate approved the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) by 20 votes in favour, 1 against and 1 abstention. Subsequently, the Philippines will submit a letter of approval to the ASEAN Secretariat, and the RCEP will officially enter into force for the Philippines 60 days after the submission. Previously, except the Philippines, the other 14 member countries have successively ratified the agreement, and the world’s largest free trade zone will soon enter into full force among all member countries.
Post time: Mar-08-2023