General Administration of Customs Launches 16 Articles to Optimize Business Environment

On the morning of June 13, the General Administration of Customs held a regular press briefing. Wu Haiping, Director of the General Operations Department of the General Administration of Customs, and Lin Shaobin, Deputy Director of the General Operations Department of the General Administration of Customs, introduced the General Administration of Customs's 16 articles on optimizing the business environment and answered reporters' questions.

In order to fully implement the major decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee and the State Council on optimizing the business environment, on June 12, the General Administration of Customs launched 16 articles on optimizing the business environment within the scope of customs responsibilities, in order to create marketization, rule of law and internationalization. The first-class business environment makes customs contributions, further stabilizes social expectations, and boosts confidence in foreign trade development. From the content point of view, 16 can be summarized as "four promotion":

One is to promote the smooth flow of import and export logistics.We will expand the pilot scope of facilitation measures such as "ship-side direct lifting", "arrival direct loading" and "joint loading and unloading", ensure the smooth operation of green channels for local inspection of fresh and perishable commodities, optimize the supervision and inspection process of high-tech equipment, speed up the quarantine access of important agricultural products, implement quick inspection and release of imported crude oil, speed up the inspection and release of imported coal, cement and other bulk resource commodities, and continuously improve the efficiency of cross-border logistics. The purpose of these measures is to make goods fast in and out.

The second is to promote cross-border trade facilitation.We will further promote the construction of a "single window" for international trade, expand more convenient functions and services, carry out pilot projects for the construction of "smart ports" at qualified ports, implement the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) with high quality, give better play to the effectiveness of free trade agreements in services, and further promote trade liberalization and facilitation.

The third is to promote enterprises to reduce the burden and increase efficiency.In terms of burden reduction, it will further facilitate the processing of export tax rebates for enterprises, further expand the scope of application of the active disclosure policy, and provide enterprises with convenient channels for fault tolerance and error correction and compliance with the law. In terms of efficiency, increase the credit cultivation of "specialized and special new" enterprises; continue to expand the scope of mutual recognition of customs "certified operators" (AEO), and promote AEO enterprises to enjoy customs clearance convenience at home and abroad; do a good job in consulting technical trade measures Service work, actively help enterprises deal with unreasonable trade barriers; strengthen the customs protection of independent brand intellectual property rights to help enterprises expand the international market; strengthen the monitoring of import and export of key commodities, and export for enterprises.

Four is to promote the development of foreign trade innovation.Accelerate the comprehensive reform of the comprehensive bonded zone, continuously improve policies, expand functions, simplify procedures, and optimize services; innovate customs supervision mechanisms to promote the upgrading of processing trade; promote the innovative development of border trade; orderly carry out comprehensive reforms of cross-border e-commerce customs supervision Promote the healthy development of cross-border e-commerce; expand the scope of bonded maintenance business and support the sustainable development of new forms of bonded maintenance.

In order to fully release the policy dividend, the next step, the General Administration of Customs will focus on the implementation of 16 from three aspects. First, the national customs are required to introduce detailed supporting measures according to local conditions, carry out in-depth investigation and research, respond to the demands of enterprises in a timely manner, and strengthen the synergy effect of policies and measures. The second is to consolidate and deepen the service of "customs director delivering policies to door", go deep into enterprises to send policies, listen to opinions, solve problems, strengthen the publicity of policies and measures, and solve the practical difficulties faced by enterprises in a targeted manner. The third is to strengthen the feedback on the implementation of policies and measures, requiring the national customs to feedback the important situation in the implementation at the first time, so as to ensure that the policies and measures are implemented, so that enterprises have more real sense of gain.

At the press conference, customs leaders answered reporters' questions on further optimizing the import and export business environment.

Reporter from the News Center of China Central Radio and Television: in order to promote the smooth flow of import and export logistics, what are the new ideas among the 16 articles on optimizing the business environment launched this time?

Wu Haiping, Director General of the General Administration of Customs: Thank you for your question. Import and export logistics flow, international trade can prosper. At present, the national customs supervises 4.8 billion tons of import and export freight a year, and 13 million inbound and outbound means of transport (racks, ships). In the face of such a large-scale import and export logistics, the customs, driven by reform and science and technology, constantly improves the efficiency of logistics supervision, and strives to be "controllable, open and fast". Last year, the General Administration of Customs successively issued 23 measures to stabilize foreign trade, including ensuring smooth access at ports, speeding up the customs clearance of urgently needed goods by enterprises, and opening "green channels" for agricultural and food products, so as to promote faster and more convenient import and export logistics, providing solid support for China's foreign trade scale to reach a record high last year. This year, while continuing to implement those popular and effective measures to ensure smooth flow, we have focused on the concerns of enterprises and studied and launched new measures. Among the 16 articles, it is mainly reflected in four aspects: first, to improve the efficiency of logistics supervision. In this regard, the main focus is on innovative regulatory models to improve effectiveness. For example, expand the pilot scope of "ship-side direct lifting" and "arrival direct loading", and explore to continue to carry out the pilot of "direct lifting and direct loading" at qualified aviation and railway ports; Copy the "joint unloading" model in the Yangtze River Delta region and the Yangtze River Basin where there is demand. Expand the pilot implementation scope of facilitation measures such as "departure confirmation" and "inspection before shipment" for export LCL goods, further promote the smooth flow of import and export logistics. The second is to facilitate the import of advanced technology and equipment. In this regard, the main focus is on optimizing process procedures to speed up efficiency. For example, optimize the import supervision and inspection process, comprehensively promote the vacuum packaging and other high-tech goods distribution control inspection mode, promote the inspection mode pilot work to expand to all shipping ports, to provide more convenience for enterprises to import high-tech equipment. This measure has effectively solved the problems of pain points and blocking points in the import link of high-tech enterprises, and is of great significance for supporting the high-quality development of China's high-tech industry and ensuring the security of the supply chain of the industrial chain. The third is to speed up the inspection and release of bulk commodity imports. Measures in this regard include the implementation of "according to the application of enterprises" quality inspection of imported iron ore and cotton, the implementation of rapid inspection and release of imported crude oil, the implementation of inspection results for imported coal, cement and other bulk resource commodities, and speeding up customs clearance. While improving efficiency, these measures have really reduced logistics costs for enterprises. The fourth is to meet the needs of personalized and rapid customs clearance of some special commodities. For example, the implementation of risk classification and accurate supervision of special goods entering and leaving the country will improve the efficiency of quarantine examination and approval. Further give full play to the advantages of territorial supervision, ensure the smooth operation of the green channel for territorial inspection, and ensure the rapid customs clearance of fresh and perishable commodities. I 'd like to inform you of a data that the inspection time can be reduced from 1-3 days to less than 3 hours as soon as possible through the territorial inspection of the green channel. Thank you!

Reporter from the Financial Program Center of China Central Radio and Television: It is understood that on April 27, the General Administration of Customs organized a mobilization meeting for the deployment of a special action to promote cross-border trade facilitation in 2023. What is the current progress? What are the new measures to promote cross-border trade facilitation in the 16 articles introduced this time?

lin shaobin, deputy director of the general business department of the general administration of customs: thank you for your question. This year, focusing on promoting cross-border trade facilitation, we continued to organize and carry out annual special actions. The General Administration of Customs, together with relevant ministries and commissions, jointly launched 19 reform and innovation measures in five areas. At present, special operations have been deployed in 17 key port cities in 12 provinces and cities including Beijing and Shanghai. In combination with the actual situation of the region, various localities are gradually implementing various measures by holding special action deployment meetings and other forms. The special action will end in September. At that time, everyone will see these key port cities showing a new look in creating a demonstration highland for optimizing the port business environment. Driven by the radiation of these demonstration highlands, the level of national cross-border trade facilitation will also be improved. Among the 16 articles introduced this time, there are also relevant measures to promote cross-border trade facilitation. For example, further promote the construction of a "single window" for international trade, expand and enrich related functions, and provide more convenient services for cross-border trade. Relying on the "single window" of international trade, we will promote the sharing of information related to customs clearance and logistics, and provide enterprises with "one-stop" information services in the whole process, such as appointment inspection, box transfer application, inspection and inquiry. We will deepen foreign cooperation and cross-border information exchange in the "single window" of international trade, actively explore digital cooperation with other countries and regions in customs clearance, and enhance the level of cross-border customs clearance facilitation. At the same time, we will also carry out the "smart port" construction pilot. According to the four types of ports, namely, water, land, air and iron, the construction of "smart ports" will be carried out on a pilot basis at ports with conditions throughout the country. We will focus on upgrading intelligent facilities and equipment, building intensive information systems, improving digital operation and management, providing convenient comprehensive services, and carrying out regular cross-border cooperation. We will speed up and increase efficiency through scientific and technological means, and promote cross-border trade to be more convenient. Thank you.

"Economic Information Daily" reporter: On June 2, the State Council executive meeting pointed out that efforts should be made to strengthen the sense of service so that enterprises can have more real sense of gain. May I ask, what are the pain points and difficulties of the enterprise that the customs has learned, and has there been any response in this 16 articles?

Wu Haiping, Director General of the General Administration of Customs: Thank you for your question. This question is very good. Are the policies and measures we have introduced good? Is there any effect? The key is to see whether the enterprise's sense of gain is strong or not. The customs deals with import and export enterprises every day, wants to work together with enterprises, and pays great attention to studying and formulating assistance measures based on the actual needs of enterprises. Last year, the General Administration of Customs issued seven measures to help enterprises to reduce costs and six measures to help small and medium-sized enterprises to solve their difficulties. At the same time, it deepened the mechanism of "customs directors sending policies to their homes", paired assistance and 12360 hotline service to help enterprises solve practical difficulties and effectively stimulate the vitality of foreign trade enterprises. Last year, China had 598000 foreign trade enterprises with import and export performance, an increase of 5.6 percent over the same period last year. In the first five months of this year, foreign trade enterprises with import and export performance increased by 7.3 year on year. In the early stage, we did a lot of research and collected and sorted out the demands and concerns of many enterprises through various channels. The pain points and difficulties of enterprises are mainly focused on reducing costs and increasing convenience. This time, we have issued 16 articles, focusing on helping enterprises reduce their burdens and increase efficiency, and put forward many targeted measures, which can be summarized as "three increases and one decrease". One is to increase the convenience of enterprises. For example, to further facilitate the handling of export tax rebates, together with the State Administration of Taxation to promote the realization of enterprise export tax rebate declaration, invoice "exemption", facilitate enterprise export tax rebate declaration, so that enterprises get tax rebates early, early benefit. Focusing on the joint construction of "Belt and Road Initiative" countries (regions), we will continue to expand the scope of mutual recognition of customs "certified operators" (AEO) and promote AEO enterprises to enjoy customs clearance convenience at home and abroad. The second is to enhance the vitality of enterprises. The first is to focus on cultivating the growth of "specialized new" enterprises. At the same time, strengthen the cultivation of advanced certification enterprises, and strive to increase the number of advanced certification enterprises by 10% by the end of 2023 compared with the same period in 2022. We have also strengthened the customs protection of intellectual property rights, launched the "Longteng Operation 2023" and "Blue Net Operation 2023" to escort the innovation and development of enterprises. The third is to improve business services. In response to the needs of enterprises to "go global", strengthen technical trade measures consulting services, give full play to the role of WTO/TBT National Notification Consulting Center and WTO/SPS National Notification Consulting Center, and actively help enterprises deal with unreasonable trade barriers. We also continue to innovate digital statistical services for the public, do a good job in the release of foreign trade data, and better provide decision-making reference for enterprises to carry out import and export and expand the international market. Four is to reduce business costs. There is a very practical measure in this regard, which is to further expand the scope of application of the active disclosure policy, to lighten, mitigate or not to impose administrative penalties on enterprises that meet the requirements in accordance with the law, and to reduce or exempt tax late fees in accordance with the law. At the same time, help and guide enterprises to make good use of preferential tax policies to promote technological innovation and industrial transformation and upgrading. To further promote the high-quality implementation of RCEP, service enterprises should enjoy the free trade agreement tariff preferences. Thank you!

"Global Times" reporter: In recent years, new formats such as cross-border e-commerce have gradually become new momentum for foreign trade development, which is inseparable from a good foreign trade innovation and development environment. What are the new measures to serve the innovative development of foreign trade in the 16 articles of the Customs to optimize the business environment? Thank you.

lin shaobin, deputy director of the general business department of the general administration of customs: thank you for your question. You asked a very critical question. New things are particularly sensitive to the environment, and the development of new formats such as cross-border e-commerce also needs the care of a good business environment. Taking cross-border e-commerce as an example, it has shown vigorous development in recent years. It can grow from a seedling to a towering tree, which is inseparable from the environment of service innovation and support innovation. In the specific supervision, the customs adheres to the concept of "innovation, tolerance, prudence and coordination". In view of the development trend and characteristics of cross-border e-commerce, the customs has issued a customs clearance management system different from traditional trade. Through classified management, the customs supervision mode suitable for the characteristics of cross-border e-commerce has been created, which has effectively promoted the healthy and sustainable development of cross-border e-commerce. Among the 16 articles launched by the customs this time, creating a good innovation environment and serving foreign trade innovation occupies an important position, which can be summarized into three aspects: first, promoting the sustainable and healthy development of cross-border e-commerce. Carry out comprehensive reform of cross-border e-commerce customs supervision in an orderly manner, and study and improve measures for the bonded supervision system for cross-border e-commerce online shopping. Realize the electronic tax payment function to facilitate enterprises to handle tax payment business online. In particular, in view of the difficulty of returning goods for enterprises, we will optimize the measures for returning goods for import and export of cross-border e-commerce commodities, improve the function of upgrading the central warehouse for returning goods, pilot the cross-border e-commerce online shopping bonded retail import cross-customs return mode, and study the expansion of the cross-customs return pilot for cross-border e-commerce general export commodities. Second, support the development of new forms of bonded maintenance. This aspect is mainly to respond to the demands of enterprises, further expand the scope of bonded maintenance business, and support enterprises to carry out more forms of bonded maintenance business. For example, enterprises in the comprehensive bonded zone are allowed to carry out bonded maintenance business of the Group's domestic self-produced products, and qualified enterprises outside the comprehensive bonded zone are supported to apply to the commercial department to carry out bonded maintenance business of self-produced export products with high technology, high added value and meeting environmental protection requirements. Third, promote the upgrading of processing trade. Innovate the customs supervision mechanism, support the development of new business forms such as bonded maintenance and remanufacturing, improve the level of information management, optimize operation procedures, further promote the facilitation of processing trade, and promote the sustained and healthy development of processing trade and the stability of the industrial chain supply chain. At the same time, in terms of serving the innovative development of foreign trade, there are also measures to promote the innovative development of comprehensive bonded areas and border trade in the 16 articles. We are ready to study and introduce a new round of measures to support the high-quality development of comprehensive bonded areas, implement relevant facilitation and customs clearance measures for commodities processed in border trade, and promote the innovative development of border trade. Thank you!

Reporter from China Customs Media Center: Strengthening the protection of intellectual property rights is an important part of creating a market-oriented, legalized and international first-class business environment. The General Administration of Customs has assumed important responsibilities for customs protection of intellectual property rights. Please introduce the relevant situation of customs protection of intellectual property rights and the relevant measures in Article 16. Thank you!

Wu Haiping, Director General of the General Administration of Customs: Thank you for your question. Innovation is the first driving force for development, and the protection of intellectual property rights is the protection of innovation. Customs protection of intellectual property rights plays an important role in creating an environment to protect and stimulate innovation. With the increasing scale of foreign trade import and export, the task of intercepting infringement in import and export links is also more difficult. The Customs has always maintained a high-pressure situation in combating infringement and counterfeiting, insisting on equal emphasis on combating infringement and service innovation, and taking multiple measures to strengthen customs protection of intellectual property rights to better escort the innovation and development of enterprises. In 2022, the national customs seized 60000 batches and 77.94 million suspected import and export infringing goods. This year, the customs will continue to strengthen the protection of intellectual property rights. Among the 16 articles on optimizing the business environment, there are three main measures for customs protection of intellectual property rights: first, continue to carry out the "Longteng action 2023" for customs protection of intellectual property rights ". This is the seventh consecutive year that this special action has been carried out. The purpose is to strengthen the customs protection of the intellectual property rights of independent brands and provide guidance and support for the overseas rights protection of small and medium-sized enterprises. This is the key work of this year's "Longteng Action. The second is to carry out the "Blue Net Action 2023" for the protection of intellectual property rights in delivery channels ". This special action is closely related to people who like online shopping. In view of the frequent occurrence of infringement in the fields of inbound and outbound mail, express mail and cross-border e-commerce, we have carried out special treatment, organized law enforcement forces to focus on cracking down on "breaking up into parts" and "ant moving" infringements, and improved the effectiveness of infringement in delivery channels. The third is to strengthen the publicity and risk warning of intellectual property policies of cross-border e-commerce enterprises, encourage enterprises to speed up the cultivation of their own brands, enhance their awareness of law-abiding operation, prevent and resolve the risk of infringement, and expand the international market. At the same time, we also pay attention to strengthening the customs protection of intellectual property rights of small and medium-sized enterprises, encourage small and medium-sized enterprises with intellectual property protection needs to apply for customs protection for enterprise trademarks and core patents, guide enterprises to actively use intellectual property customs protection measures to safeguard their legitimate rights and interests, and enhance their ability to safeguard intellectual property rights. Thank you!