It has been more than half a year since the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) took effect on January 1 this year. Data showed by General Administration of Customs on July 19, in the first half of the year, our country export enterprises applying for RCEP certificate of origin and opening declaration of origin 266,000 copies, the value of goods is about 97.9 billion yuan, can enjoy tariff reduction of 710 million yuan, the main commodities are garments and clothing accessories, plastics and leather products, etc. The value of preferential imports under RCEP is 23.86 billion yuan, with tariff reductions of 520 million yuan. The main commodities are steel, plastics and their products, machinery and appliances and their parts.
The RCEP has been effective since January 1 for 10 countries -- Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, China, Japan, New Zealand and Australia; on February 1 for the Republic of Korea; on March 18 for Malaysia; and on May 1 for Myanmar.
Industry insiders said the RCEP will allow more and more Chinese companies to enjoy dividends and promote the development of an export-oriented economy. China's imports and exports to RCEP trading partners increased 5.6 percent year on year in the first half, according to customs data.
The RCEP will bring Chinese consumers richer consumption experience. An official of the Ministry of Commerce said earlier that with more high-quality foreign goods entering the Chinese consumer market, consumers have more choices. At the same time, zero tariffs will reduce the cost of imported goods, so that the public can buy foreign products at a better price. The RCEP's high-level trade facilitation measures have also helped consumers receive imported goods more quickly.
Guided by the cooperation philosophy of "smart customs, smart border and Smart Connectivity", the Customs continues to deepen exchanges and cooperation with RCEP member states in customs inspection and quarantine, pragmatically promote the export of high-quality agricultural products from RCEP member states to China, and sign protocols on agricultural products to China with Myanmar and Cambodia. We will carry out dynamic monitoring and analysis of the latest technical trade measures adopted by RCEP member states, and negotiate with them to deal with 19 unreasonable measures. China has interpreted the customs rules of the RCEP, issued rules interpretation of the text and guidelines on measures to export toys and building sanitary ceramics, and actively guided enterprises to make full use of the rules and institutional dividends of the RCEP, creating a favorable external atmosphere for the implementation of the agreement.
