The Regulation of the Import and Export of Gold and Gold Products

The people's Bank of China, the General Administration of Customs (hereinafter referred to as the GAC) released the joint order of Regulation of the Import and Export of Gold and Gold Products (No.1 2015) on 4th March to strengthen the administration of the import and export of gold and gold products. According to the regulation, corporations and other organizations should obtain the permit for import and export of gold and gold products and submit the permit to the Customs for further procedures; the applicant shall be the corporate(except whom conduct the import for public purpose) with no illegal records in recent two years. Details are as follows: http://www.customs.gov.cn/publish/portal0/tab49659/info735766.htm 

The Revision of the 2012 HS Code

The GAC released No. 6 Announcement on 11th March, 2015 to revise Explanatory Notes to the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (hereinafter referred to as Explanatory Notes), which is considered as the legal substratum. Being the contracting party of The Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (hereinafter referred to as HS), China customs compile Explanatory Notes according to HS Notes. Since WCO has made part revision of 2012 HS Notes, the P.R.C. Customs also adjusted the Explanatory Notes accordingly.

Reforms of the Customs Clearance Integration Both in Silk Road Economic Belt and in the Northeast China

The GAC issued No. 9 Announcement on 30th March, 2015 to start customs clearance integration reforms in the Silk Road Economic Belt covering Qingdao, Ji'nan, Zhengzhou, Taiyuan, Xi'an, Lanzhou, Yinchuan, Xining, Urumqi and Lhasa Customs in Provinces of Shandong, Henan, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia, Qinghai, Xinjiang and Tibet (hereinafter referred to as the Silk Road Economic Belt) . Meanwhile No. 10 Announcement was issued to launch the reform in Dalian, Shenyang, Changchun, Harbin, Hohhot and Manchuria Customs in Provinces of Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang, and Inner Mongolia. 

The Expansion of the Reform Scope of the Custom Clearance Integration in Guangdong Area

The GAC issued No. 11 Announcement on 7th April 2015 to expand the reform scope of Customs clearance integration in Guangdong area, involving Fuzhou, Xiamen, Nanning and Haikou Customs of provinces of Fujian, Guangxi and Hainan, which would enable the  integration since 1st May, 2015.

Abolishment and Revision of Part Regulations

The GAC announced Decree NO.226 on 7th April. 2015 to abolish Administrative Measures of the Customs of the People's Republic of China Governing Bonded Factories Engaged in Processing Trade (Decree No.343 of the GAC) announced on 6th April. 1988 and Administrative Measures of the Customs of the People's Republic of China governing Bond Groups Engaged in Import Processing (Decree No.41) announced on 5th January 1993. The Decree No.41 used to be revised on 5th May 2014 by Decree No.218 of the GAC. The GAC announced Decree NO.227 on 28th April. 2015 revise six regulations including Administrative Regulations of the Customs of the People's Republic of China on Bonded Warehouses and Bonded Goods. Main amendments are related to document submission and applicant qualification in administrative approval procedures, which are considered tiny changes and have less importance with Customs practice in import and export activities.

Set-up of Guangdong, Tianjin and Fujian pilot FTZs

The State Council announced Notice of the State Council on Issuing the General Plan for China (Guangdong) Pilot Free Trade Zone (Guo Fa [2015] No.18), Notice of the State Council on Issuing the General Plan for China (Tianjin) Pilot Free Trade Zone (Guo Fa [2015] No. 19) and Notice of the State Council on Issuing the General Plan for China (Fujian) Pilot Free Trade Zone (Guo Fa [2015] No. 20) on 8th Apr. 2015. Guangdong, Tianjin and Fujian pilot FTZs have been officially set up on 21st April later on. China (Tianjin) Pilot Free Trade Zone consists of Tianjin Port Area, Tianjin Airport Area and Binhai New Area Central Business District. China (Guangdong) Pilot Free Trade Zone consists of Nansha New Area of Guangzhou, Qianhai & Shekou of Shenzhen and Hengqin New Area of Zhuhai. China (Fujian) Pilot Free Trade Zone also consists of Xiamen Sub-area, Fuzhou Sub-area and Pingtan Sub-area.

In terms of the function, Tianjin FTZ focuses on synergetic development of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei as well as the economic transformation and development of China; Guangdong FTZ aims at the deepened economic cooperation among Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao; Fujian FTZ is relevant to the 21st century maritime silk road and targets in further enhance of the economic tie between Fujian and Taiwan.

In terms of policy implementation, Tianjin FTZ conducted 18 innovations on Customs inspection at the first place and promoted clearance facilitation; Hengqin New Area and Qianhai & Shekou of Shenzhen have set up FTZs one after the other, and Nansha New Area is planning to announce parallel import of automobiles in June; Fujian FTZ has announced the Implementation plan of Pingtan Sub-area in China (Fujian) Pilot Free Trade Zone on 28th, April.

Revision of Customs Value of Formula-priced Imported Goods

The GAC announced the No.15 Announcement on 26th Apr. 2015 to revise the examining process of dutiable value for formula-priced import goods. The taxpayer should apply for accredited application to the Customs located in where the initial goods being imported or where the company locating, before the import of initial goods. After the collection of overall materials, the Customs should make the relevant record within 5 days and issue the Customs record form of formula-priced contract. The record is recognized in nationwide and no need to be repeated. The Announcement is supposed to be conducted on 1st May 2015, with the No.11 Announcement of GAC issued in 2006 being abolished at the same time.

Beijing Customs announced [2015] No.7 on 13th April to specify the bonded display & trading business of companies located in Customs special supervision areas or bonded supervision areas in Beijing. Details are as follows:

http://beijing.customs.gov.cn/publish/portal159/tab60556/info736230.htm

Qingdao Customs announced [2015] No.1 on 16th April to launch the electronic to goods imported or exported via water or air through Qingdao. Details are as follows:

http://qingdao.customs.gov.cn/publish/portal105/tab63119/info736890.htm