Charges for Imports and Exports Further Standardized

On August 28, seven authorities including the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), Ministry of Finance (MOF), Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), Ministry of Transportation (MOT), Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), General Administration of Customs (GAC), and General Administration of Quality Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) jointly promulgated a Circular to further regulate and reduce fee charges for imports and exports.

The opinions call for the following measures:

• Reduce or eliminate fees required by both national and local level authorities
• Improve supervision systems
• Ensure transparency with fee categories
• Fortify anti-monopoly enforcement
• Accelerate marketization reform in import and export services

The scope of the regulation includes harbors and ports, customs, import/export inspection authorities, related service and agency enterprises as well as administrative fees, government funds and other market fees.