Mainland China and HK Customs sign transhipment agreement that will benefit NZ exporters

Trade Advice

Mainland China and Hong Kong Customs have signed a Co-operation Arrangement on the Origin of Transhipment Cargo in Hong Kong under Free Trade Agreements, in order to strengthen Hong Kong's role as an international trade and logistics hub as well as to encourage traders to choose Hong Kong as a transhipment location.

The Co-operation Arrangement covers goods traded between Mainland China and its trading partners, including Australia and New Zealand.

Transhipment Cargo via Hong Kong to the Mainland
1.    If consignees or their agents (Importers) can provide China Customs with the following transportation documents when applying for convention tariff or preferential rate, China Customs will not require importers to provide the “Certificate of Non-manipulation” issued by C&ED or China Inspection Co. Ltd. (CIC Ltd.):

a.    For cargo arriving in Hong Kong by air or sea - The single through bill of lading issued by international express enterprises, civil aviation transportation enterprises, international liner transportation operators and their trusted agents[1]. The departure point, which is within the boundary of the country of origin (region) and the destination point which is within the boundary of the Mainland, should be displayed on the same page of the single through bill of lading; or

b.    For containerized cargo under the ECFA of which the electronic data of country of origin could be exchanged - A through bill of lading which can prove that the container number and seal number have remained unchanged during their whole transportation journey, if the single through bill of lading could not be provided.

2.    If the above two requirements could not be fulfilled, importers are required to observe the following requirements to provide “Certificate of Non-manipulation” to be issued by C&ED and CIC Ltd.:

a.    For non-containerized cargo transhipped via Hong Kong and containerized cargo which is unsealed not owing to the pre-inspection conducted by the CIC Ltd. during their transhipment stay in Hong Kong, a trader is required to submit a “Certificate of Non-manipulation” issued by C&ED to China Customs. (For cargo concerning aquatic animals, animal fur, fruits and ornamental fish, a trader is only required to submit a “Certificate of Non-manipulation” issued by the CIC Ltd. to China Customs)

b.    For containerized cargo, which is required to have pre-inspection by the CIC Ltd. during their stay in Hong Kong and cargo concerning aquatic animals, animal fur, fruits and ornamental fish, a trader is required to submit a “Certificate of Non-manipulation” issued by the CIC Ltd. to China Customs.

c.    For containerized cargo that has remained intact during their transhipment stay in Hong Kong, a trader is required to submit a “Certificate of Non-manipulation” issued by either C&ED or CIC Ltd..

[1] China Customs may request that a Certificate of Non-manipulation is also presented even though cargoes are covered by single through bill of lading issued by trusted agents.

[Remarks: Please contact CIC Ltd. for details about the pre-inspection and “Certificate of Non-manipulation” issued by the CIC Ltd.]

For related announcement of the China Customs, please refer to the following website : http://www.customs.gov.cn/publish/portal0/tab49564/info781694.htm

Jun 22, 2016