With export enterprises reaping savings from the RCEP agreement, they have grown increasingly aware of the benefits of utilizing free trade agreements to promote foreign trade development.

Data showed that in the first quarter of the year, Xiamen Customs issued 5,025 RCEP certificates of origin, involving 2.22 billion yuan ($322.49 million) of export goods, up 70.28 percent and 49.79 percent year-on-year, respectively.

These certificates are expected to provide more than 20 million yuan in tariff reductions for export enterprises. Chemicals, aluminum products, and umbrellas are the main products that benefit from the certificate.

On April 12, Lin Lijun, a declarant for Xiamen Kangyida Trading Co Ltd, successfully printed an RCEP certificate of origin on the e-government machine of the convenience store downstairs of the company.

With the certificate, a batch of food, worth an estimated 150,000 yuan, exported by the company to Malaysia will receive zero tariff treatment, leading to nearly 3,000 yuan in savings.

To help export enterprises reap savings from the RCEP agreement, Xiamen Customs took active moves to promote the rules of origin and tariff reduction arrangements under the RCEP. It also promoted RCEP policies to key enterprises, thus helping them to plan and expand into markets in advance.

At the same time, Xiamen Customs continues to optimize the visa model, using technologies to improve business processing. It also provides intelligent services by establishing integrated platforms and sharing self-service terminals.

An aerial view of Xiamen Port. [Photo/Xiamen Daily]