In the first quarter of 2021, Harbin Customs issued 4,950 certificates of origin for goods exported to the members of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement.

The total value of these goods reached $170 million.

Harbin Customs has conducted enterprise surveys on the application and use of certificates of origin to find out the number of enterprises exporting to RCEP member countries and exported products’ structure. The intention is to help enterprises to seize the new opportunities brought by the RCEP agreement.

The customs department also held meetings to interpret RCEP’s preferential free trade policies and guide enterprises to strengthen their understanding of the application rules for certificates of origin in RCEP member countries. The meetings also aimed to help firms standardize and accurately declare the origin of goods.

Qiqihar Longjiang Fufeng Biotechnology Co is under the jurisdiction of Harbin Customs and is benefiting from the certificates of origin program.

In the first quarter of this year, the company applied for a total of 184 certificates of origin from ASEAN countries, South Korea and Australia, with a value of $8.59 million.

The company’s salesperson Li Haoran said that by applying for the certificates of origin, the feed additives exported by his company can enjoy tariff reductions in the importing country, which will enhance the company's market competitiveness and expand its international market share.

Moving forward, Harbin Customs will promote the adoption of a smart review and self-printing model for certificates of origin.

The new model is expected to minimize the time necessary for companies to apply for certificates, help companies fully enjoy the policy dividends of the free trade agreement and further explore the international market.