Recently, Saint-Gobain Ceramic Materials (Zhengzhou) Co., Ltd. has secured an RCEP certificate of origin for a shipment of single-crystal alumina bound for Japan, enabling the company to take immediate advantage of tariff reductions. "The RCEP certificate has also led to a risein orders from Japanese clients," said Hao Jia, the company's head of foreign trade.
Three years after the RCEP came into effect, its trade benefits continue to grow. According to data from Zhengzhou Customs, the total value of preferential imports and exports under the RCEP agreement in Henan reached 1.17 billion yuan in the first five months of this year, marking a 5.4% year-on-year increase.
As tariff rates continue to decrease and the zero-tariff product list grows, foreign trade companies in Henan are increasingly adept at leveraging the benefits of the RCEP. Jiaozuo Zhuoli Membrane Materials Co., Ltd. is a prime example. Benefiting from the RCEP tariff reduction policy, the company now pays a lower import duty on petroleum resin from Japan, with the rate dropping from 6.5% to 4.9%. After processing, the finished film products are exported back to Japan, where they receive an additional 3.2-percentage-point tariff reduction. Ren Jiaxiang, the company's foreign trade director, said, "The RCEP brings substantial benefits to companies like ours, which rely on international markets for both raw material sourcing and product sales. It has significantly reduced intra-regional trade costs, giving us the confidence to strengthen and optimize our industrial and supply chains." He added that the company is now enjoying RCEP incentives on both import and export transactions.
By leveraging RCEP and other tariff reduction policies, "Made in Henan" products are gaining a stronger presence in the international markets. At Luoyang Hengguan Bearing Technology Co., Ltd., Xiao Xu, a foreign trade representative, was applying for a ASEAN-China Free Trade Area Preferential Tariff Certificate of Origin Form. With in one minute, he received the printed certificate. "With this certificate, we can secure a tariff reduction of about 30,000 RMB yuan on the needle bearings we're exporting to Thailand," he explained.
"To better help businesses benefit from overseas preferential tariff treatment, we have not only actively promoted the effective implementation of preferential policies for Certificates of Origin, but also introduced measures like smart certificate verification and self-service printing to streamline processes for enterprises," according to Luoyang Customs. Over the past five months, Luoyang Customs issued Certificates of Origin for bearing companies in the region, with a total value of 36.49 million yuan, saving businesses approximately 2.92 million yuan in import tariffs. (Chinese source: Henan Daily Reporter: Wang Ge Translator: Zhao Hanqing Proofreader: Ding Lan)
