New domestic and foreign trade regulations in March: mutual visa exemption between China and Thailand, the implementation of relevant requirements and procedures for the export of second-hand cars, the official implementation of customs closure and operation in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, and the imposition of anti-dumping duties on imported potato starch originating in the European Union. Let's talk about these new foreign trade regulations in detail.
On January 1, the Sino-Thai Mutual Visa Exemption Agreement officially came into effect.
On January 28, representatives of China** and the Kingdom of Thailand** signed the "Agreement between the People's Republic of China** and the Kingdom of Thailand** on Mutual Exemption of Visas for Ordinary Passport Holders" in Bangkok, Thailand. The agreement will enter into force on March 1, 2024. At that time, Chinese ordinary passport holders, ordinary passport holders and Thai ordinary passport holders can enter each other's countries without a visa for a single stay of no more than 30 days (the cumulative stay of every 180 days shall not exceed 90 days).
On January 1, the relevant requirements and procedures for the export of second-hand cars came into effect.
A few days ago, in order to promote the healthy and orderly development of China's second-hand car exports, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Transport, and the General Administration of Customs jointly formulated the relevant requirements and procedures for the export of second-hand cars, and issued the "Announcement on Matters Related to the Export of Second-hand Cars", which will come into force on March 1, 2024.
On 1 January, the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin officially implemented customs closure operation.
According to Xinhua News Agency, as a major exploration of China's implementation of high-level institutional opening-up, the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin officially implemented customs closure at 0:00 on March 1. After the closure and operation, in terms of goods, the eligible goods will enter the cooperation zone through the "first line" and be exempted from taxes, and other circumstances will be bonded; Import taxes are levied on those who enter the mainland through the "second tier", and those who meet the requirements can enjoy tariff-free processing value-added.
4. Anti-dumping duties are levied on imported potato starch originating in the European Union.
On February 4, the Ministry of Commerce issued Announcement [2024] No. 4, deciding to conduct a final review investigation on the anti-dumping measures applicable to imported potato starch originating in the EU from February 6, 2024. During the end-of-term review investigation of anti-dumping measures, anti-dumping duties will continue to be levied on imported potato starch originating in the EU at a rate of 126%~56.7%。
5. The limit of a single transaction for foreign visitors to China using mobile payment has been increased.
At the regular policy briefing held on March 1, Zhang Qingsong, deputy governor of the People's Bank of China, and relevant responsible persons of the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange introduced the relevant situation of further optimizing payment services and improving payment convenience, and answered questions from reporters. Zhang Qingsong said that major payment institutions will be instructed to increase the single transaction limit for foreign visitors to China from US$1,000 to US$5,000, and the annual cumulative transaction limit from US$10,000 to US$50,000.
6. Irish breeding pigs were allowed to be imported.
On February 1, the General Administration of Customs issued Announcement No. 14 of 2024 (Announcement on Quarantine and Hygiene Requirements for Imported Irish Breeding Pigs) to allow the import of Irish breeding pigs that meet the quarantine and health conditions from the date of this announcement.
7. Uzbekistan chickpeas were allowed to be imported.
On February 4, the General Administration of Customs issued Announcement No. 15 of 2024 (Announcement on the phytosanitary requirements for imported chickpeas from Uzbekistan), allowing the import of chickpeas from Uzbekistan that meet the relevant requirements.
The above is the new domestic and foreign trade regulations in March.