Recently, a batch of intelligent forklifts from Anhui Heli Industrial Vehicles Import & Export Co., Ltd. set sail from Hefei Port with the whistle sounding, after customs clearance and supervision by Luzhou Customs under Hefei Customs, bound for Indonesia.

“This is the 680th batch of our goods enjoying preferential treatment for export this year. Thanks to the China-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement Certificate of Origin issued by Luzhou Customs, this shipment enjoys a tariff reduction of 240,000 yuan,” said Chen Jiashuai, Manager of the Documentation and Transportation Department of the company.

The Certificate of Origin is the legal document that enables enterprises to enjoy tariff reductions under free trade agreements. Enterprises holding this certificate can enjoy tariff reductions more favorable than the most-favored-nation rates and it is known as the “golden paper” in international trade. According to Luzhou Customs, with the help of this “golden paper,” Anhui Heli Industrial Vehicles Import & Export Co., Ltd., Anhui JAC Automobile Group Co., Ltd., and other companies have established marketing networks covering 18 Belt and Road Initiative countries. Products “Made in Anhui,” such as new energy vehicles and intelligent forklifts, enjoy an average tariff reduction benefit of 26.6%.

Data shows that in the first four months of this year, Luzhou Customs issued 17,262 Certificates of Origin under free trade agreements with Belt and Road countries, with the certified transaction amount exceeding 8.1 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 20.07%. As a result, foreign trade enterprises in Hefei enjoyed tariff discounts totaling 405 million yuan, with the scale of benefits growing by 20% year-on-year.

“To help enterprises fully utilize various tariff concessions and facilitation measures under free trade agreements, we tailor policies to enterprises’ needs by building a multi-dimensional service network of ‘online policy Q&A + offline policy guidance + dedicated liaison officers for key enterprises.’ We have established a database covering 12 agreements including the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and China-ASEAN, providing customized optimal tariff reduction plans for over 50 key enterprises,” said Yang Lei, Section Chief of Enterprise Management at Luzhou Customs.

Helping foreign trade enterprises “travel light” means not only saving financial costs but also saving time costs.

It is introduced that Luzhou Customs relies on the “Smart Approval Platform” to achieve 24/7 “intelligent instant approval” of Certificates of Origin. Enterprises can submit origin certificate application data anytime based on the needs of foreign clients through intelligent customs approval. Paired with “self-service printing + paperless declaration” services, the document review time can be reduced by 70%, enabling enterprises to apply for certificates of origin without leaving their offices.

“In 2024, our company has processed 647 RCEP certificates of origin, with a cargo value of nearly 360 million yuan, all printed in-house. Our foreign clients can receive goods faster, boosting our confidence to secure more overseas orders,” said the customs affairs manager of Anhui Heli Industrial Vehicles Import & Export Co., Ltd.

Source: Anhui Daily