The State Council Information Office held a regular policy briefing at 3:00 p.m. on May 26. Zou Zhiwu, Deputy Commissioner of the General Administration of Customs, provided an update on efforts to advance the national customs clearance integration initiative and answered questions from reporters.
“Advancing the development of the ‘Single Window’ system to achieve nationwide integrated customs clearance” is one of the tasks outlined in this year’s Government Work Report issued by the State Council. In accordance with the work arrangements and requirements of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, In recent years, led by the General Administration of Customs and in collaboration with relevant ministries and local governments, we have thoroughly implemented the requirements of supply-side structural reform and the “streamlining administration, delegating power, and improving services” reform. Building on the integration of operations among relevant port management departments, leveraging the “Single Window” platform, and utilizing the “Three Mutuals” (mutual recognition of customs declarations, mutual acceptance of inspection results, and mutual acceptance of customs clearance) as a mechanism for comprehensive customs clearance, we have worked together to achieve cross-regional, cross-level, and cross-departmental customs clearance collaboration, driving positive progress in the integration of national customs clearance.
The following is an update on the progress of the national integrated customs clearance initiative:
The integration of operations among relevant port authorities has largely been achieved
The Ministry of Public Security has implemented a nationwide unified information system for entry-exit border inspection, standardized border inspection law enforcement and duty systems, and has essentially achieved the integration of the border inspection operational framework. The Ministry of Transport has promoted the application of a nationwide unified vessel safety supervision and management system, fully realizing integrated customs clearance for vessels. The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine has achieved integrated inspection and quarantine clearance through the “notification, inspection, and release” process, as well as “direct release for exports and direct clearance for imports.” The General Administration of Customs has established risk prevention and control centers and tax collection and administration centers, enabling enterprises to complete all customs clearance procedures at any customs office nationwide. Port-based risk prevention and control measures ensure safe market access, and more than 95% of valuation and classification operations have been shifted to post-release processing. As a result, the national integrated customs clearance system has reached a new level of development.
The “Single Window” system further promotes trade facilitation
Seventeen provinces and municipalities have established “Single Windows,” through which enterprises can submit data that meets the reporting requirements of all relevant departments in a single submission. The system’s backend distributes this data, enabling departments to process it in parallel, with the system providing a unified feedback of results. This reduces the need for duplicate data entry and eliminates the need for businesses to run back and forth between relevant departments. To ensure uniform standards for key functions, the standard version of the “Single Window”—which includes nine major functions such as goods declaration, means of transport declaration, and tax and fee payment—is currently being developed, with plans to achieve full coverage at all ports by the end of the year.
The “Three Mutuals” Grand Clearance Cooperation Mechanism Has Yielded Significant Results
Strengthening international customs clearance cooperation to advance the Belt and Road Initiative, we are collaborating with customs authorities in countries along the route to promote connectivity and achieve “customs clearance for the world.” Relevant ministries and commissions are deepening and expanding information sharing through measures such as establishing credit information platforms, promoting online verification, and signing memorandums of understanding. We are steadily advancing “one-stop operations,” fully implementing joint customs and inspection inspections, and making orderly progress in joint boarding inspections of international vessels.
The business environment for foreign trade continues to improve
We are continuously improving the customs clearance integrity system, with relevant ministries and commissions implementing joint incentives and joint disciplinary measures for import and export enterprises. We are implementing the “double random, one public” system to ensure that enterprises are not subjected to excessive inspections. We have implemented online transmission of export tax rebate data and eliminated the issuance of paper certificates, making the export tax rebate process more convenient. We have waived approximately 500 million yuan in fees—including hoisting, relocation, and warehousing costs—for foreign trade enterprises nationwide that passed inspections without issues, benefiting 160,000 enterprises. We have formulated and implemented specific measures to reduce cargo clearance time by one-third.
Moving forward, Customs will strengthen coordination with relevant departments and focus on the following tasks:
First, we will eliminate “information silos” and vigorously advance the development of the “Single Window” system for international trade, achieving full coverage at all ports nationwide by the end of the year. We will establish a data-sharing platform for customs declarations, logistics monitoring, and corporate credit information. Documents and materials that can be verified through inter-agency networks at ports will no longer be required from enterprises, thereby maximizing the use of paperless procedures across all stages, including declarations, inspections, and tax payments.
Second, we will deepen collaborative oversight and promote unified and joint law enforcement. We will implement joint supervision based on information sharing and advance one-time joint inspections across departments. We will transform the current “sequential” process for customs declaration and inspection into a “parallel” one, and explore a new model of port management that integrates multiple procedures and flattens the organizational structure. Strengthen cross-departmental and cross-regional cooperation in customs clearance to ensure that all customs declaration and inspection procedures can be completed at either the port of entry or exit, or at the customs and inspection and quarantine agencies located in the declarant’s place of business. At the same time, strengthen risk prevention and control to ensure efficient clearance while maintaining effective oversight.
Third, we will prioritize cost reduction and efficiency gains by expanding the use of new technologies and equipment and increasing the proportion of non-intrusive, non-disruptive inspections. We will implement the system of fee catalogs, carry out in-depth special rectification campaigns, continue to eliminate unreasonable charges at ports of entry, and fully implement the waiver of handling, relocation, and warehousing fees for foreign trade enterprises that pass inspections without issues. These measures aim to reduce compliance costs associated with container imports and exports, alleviate the burden on enterprises, and foster a favorable business environment for foreign trade.
In June 2016, the General Administration of Customs launched a nationwide pilot program for integrated customs clearance reform centered on the “Two Centers and Three Systems,” with a focus on establishing a new system and mechanism for customs supervision and management. Since the pilot began, through continuous summarization of pilot experiences and gradual expansion of the pilot scope, customs clearance efficiency has significantly improved, clearance times have been steadily reduced, and clearance costs have been effectively lowered. In accordance with the reform implementation plan, nationwide integrated customs clearance is expected to be largely achieved by the end of 2017. In the first half of this year, efforts will be accelerated to complete the construction and fully launch the two centers, achieving full coverage of all modes of transport and all chapters of the tariff schedule. We will steadily advance the “single declaration, phased processing” clearance model, deepen reforms in tax collection and administration, and promote coordinated supervision across the national customs system, so that enterprises can experience the reality that “the national customs system operates as a single entity.”
Excerpt from a Customs announcement