China to expand cross-customs returns for e-commerce exports
A cross-customs return model for exported retail goods will be rolled out nationwide at all customs starting April 1 to further facilitate cross-border e-commerce exports, the General Administration of Customs (GAC) announced on March 16.
The model (HS customs code: 9610) allows returned overseas goods to be cleared at any customs port nationwide, rather than being mandatorily returned to the original port of export, but must be cleared at a customs-supervised site that handles cross-border e-commerce retail exports.
Businesses engaged in cross-customs returns for retail exports must operate in compliance, maintain a dedicated operations area, and make their production data accessible to customs or integrated with the customs information system.
The GAC announced in November 2024 that it would pilot the cross-customs return supervision model for retail exports at 20 regional customs, including Beijing, Tianjin, Dalian, Harbin, Shanghai, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Chengdu, Xiamen, and Urumqi, which became effective on Dec 15 that year.
Why Xiamen
-
Xiamen is one of the most economically competitive cities in China and was one of the first Special Economic Zones on the Chinese mainland. As a vice-provincial city independently listed on the State development plan, it has provincial-level authority in economic administration and local legislative power. In 2010, the Xiamen SEZ was expanded to cover the entire municipality. Today, Xiamen is a modern and international port city.