People’s Republic of China
Exports
Bill of lading, cargo release order, foreign
exchange form, station receipt, certificate
of origin, commercial invoice, customs
export declaration, packing list and terminal
handling receipts.
Licences
Imports
The Chinese government monitors the
import of some goods that require licences,
such as controlled chemicals.
Automatic licensing may be enforced by
the Chinese authorities for any goods they
wish to examine. The licence is valid for
six months and can be used for up to six
shipments.
All importers must gain approval from the
Foreign Trade Administration and must
be registered with the Administration for
Industry and Commerce.
Exports
Export permits are required from the Ministry
of Commerce (MOFCOM) for certain
commodities, including some agricultural
products, various metals and chemicals and
vehicles.
Both foreign and domestic companies are
subject to export licensing requirements.
Tariffs/Taxes
Imports
China’s overall tariff level fell from 15.6
percent in 2000 to 9.8 percent at the start of
2012 as a result of its WTO commitments to
reduce tariff rates.
Imports are subject to one of four
classifications of tariff rates: most favoured
nation (MFN) – for countries that have
established an MFN agreement and WTO
member states; preferential tariff – for
countries that have signed a preferential
tariff agreement with China; conventional
tariff – for delegations that have concluded a
regional trade agreement from a preferential
tariff clause; and the general tariff rate, which
covers all other imports.
Under the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area
(CAFTA), goods imported from ASEAN
member states have an average tariffs of
0.1 percent
Exports
Many goods are subject to taxes or tariffs
upon export from China in the form of export
duties.
Apart from a certain fertiliser products, which
carry an export duty of 75 percent, export
tariff rates are set between 5 percent and
40 percent.Financing requirements for imports/
exports
For advance import payment, importers
must complete the relevant trade credit
registration procedures.Prohibited items
Imports
Items prohibited for moral and cultural
reasons and for issues of national security.
Exports
Items prohibited for moral and cultural
reasons and for issues of national security.