▲   Hong Kong Customs announces new HS code

      Recently, the Census and Statistics Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region released the "2020 Hong Kong Cargo Coordination System (Hong Kong Freight Association) Number". The 2020 version of the Hong Kong Freight Association will take effect on January 1, 2020. The declaration forms submitted by import and export goods in or before 2019 must be filled out in accordance with the 2019 version of the Hong Kong Freight Association.

      According to information from the Hong Kong Customs, a spokesperson for the Hong Kong Customs reminded importers and exporters: From January 1, 2020, the imported and exported goods must be declared in accordance with the latest revised "Hong Kong Import and Export Goods Classification List (Harmonized System) 2020".

▲   Japan and the United States: The trade agreement takes effect on January 1

      On December 4, 2019 local time, the Japanese Senate passed the Japan-US Trade Agreement and the Japan-US Digital Trade Agreement. The agreement will enter into force on January 1, 2020.

      It is expected that tariffs on US-produced agricultural products worth about US$7.2 billion will be cancelled or reduced. The US beef tariff imposed by Japan will be reduced from 38.5% to 26.6%, and will eventually be reduced to 9% in the next 15 years; the high price tariff of 4.3% for pork will eventually be reduced to zero; the tariffs for some cheese products will be reduced from the current 29.8% Periodically reduced to zero, wine tariffs will eventually be revoked.

      On the other hand, the 1.4% tariff imposed by the United States on air-conditioning components in Japan will be lifted. The tariff on Japanese machine tools will be lifted in the second year of the agreement, and the tariff on Japanese beef will also be greatly reduced.

▲   Vietnam and Cambodia: Implementation of Vietnam and Cambodia Tax Treaty Agreement

      The Agreement between the Governments of Vietnam and Cambodia on Avoidance of Double Taxation and Prevention of Tax Evasion entered into force on February 20, 2019, and will be officially implemented in both countries on January 1, 2020. The Agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation and Prevention of Tax Evasion will promote Vietnam-Cambodia economic, trade and investment cooperation by creating a more transparent and stable legal environment.

      In addition, according to the tax reduction roadmap of the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement, almost all import and export commodities between Vietnam and Cambodia have a tax rate of 0% to 5%.

▲   Saudi Arabia: The shipping list and invoice have strict requirements

      Recently, the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) released the latest news: Since January 1, 2020, all products exported to the Saudi market must display a barcode on the packaging, the barcode consists of 13 digits.

      The barcode preparation rules are determined by the factory, and can be compiled according to product models or series products, that is, different models of the same series of products can share a barcode. The barcode requires 13 digits to be scanned. The bar code can be printed on the outer box, or printed as a sticker and attached to the outer box.

      From January 1, 2020, the invoices and packing slips provided at the time of shipment must display a bar code, and the invoice must be stamped.

▲   Saudi Arabia: SABER certified product list added in January

      Saudi Arabia officially announced the products that need SABER certification in January, which are: 

• Equipment, machinery and structures permanently or temporarily placed in the city;
• Adhesives and glue products, such as structural adhesives, leather adhesives, footwear adhesives, wood product adhesives, paper adhesives, packaging adhesives, etc.;
• Manufacture plastic metal products for decoration, such as hair, hands and neck ornaments;
• Plastic and metal piping systems used to transport water and power facilities, buildings and accessories;
• Wireless communication equipment, such as mobile phones, headsets, smart devices, etc.;
• Packaging products, paper, cardboard, wood, plastics, textiles and other materials used for packaging;
• Food contact materials and surfaces, such as cooking equipment, tableware, food packaging materials and containers;
• Shoes made of leather, textiles, plastics or mixtures of these materials;
• Equipment and accessories working under pressure, such as fire extinguishers and pressure cookers;
• Fire protection products, such as fire extinguishers, alarm systems, and fire hoses;
• Fireworks products, such as firecrackers, fireworks.

      SABER certification refers to the conformity certification evaluation plan for non-Saudi local enterprises (ie, enterprises that are exported to Saudi Arabia), and is an upgraded version of the newly launched SASO certification. It is actually a network tool for product registration, issuance and obtaining a CoC certificate of conformity, so it is very important for Chinese export companies. Relevant export enterprises must contact the Saudi importer to confirm the registration information.

▲   75% of the products of China and Pakistan will implement zero tariff

      On December 1, 2019, the Protocol between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on Amending the "Free Trade Agreement" (hereinafter referred to as the "Protocol") came into effect. At present, China and Pakistan have completed relevant domestic procedures, and the "Protocol" tax reduction arrangements will be implemented from January 1, 2020.

      According to the "Protocol", after the implementation of the tax reduction arrangement, the proportion of the tax items between China and Pakistan will be gradually increased from 35% to 75%. In addition, the two parties will implement a 20% partial tax reduction on other products that account for 5% of their respective tax items.

      Please see the list of products with reduced tariffs and preferential tariff concessions for both parties:     
      http://fta.mofcom.gov.cn/pakistan/pakistan_special.shtml

▲   China and Singapore revised regulations on the origin of imported and exported goods

         According to the announcement of the General Administration of Customs, the Protocol of the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Singapore on Upgrading the Free Trade Agreement between the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Singapore (hereinafter referred to as the “Protocol”) has been approved by the State Council. The rules and product-specific rules of origin will be effective from January 1, 2020.

      In order to correctly determine the origin of the imported and exported goods under the "Free Trade Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Singapore", the General Administration of Customs has formulated the The revised Measures for the Administration of the Origin of Imported and Exported Goods are now promulgated and will be implemented as of January 1, 2020.

       http://www.customs.gov.cn/customs/302249/2480148/2796020/index.html

▲   China and Georgia exchange data of place of origin

      From January 1, 2020 (including the same day), the "China-Georgia Country of Origin Electronic Information Exchange System" is officially in operation, and the electronic data of the certificate of origin under the "Agreement" will be transmitted in real time.

      The consignor or agent of the export goods (hereinafter referred to as the exporter) shall fill in the “Customs Declaration of the People’s Republic of China for Export Goods” or the “Record of the Customs of the People’s Republic of China for Export Goods” in accordance with the relevant provisions of Announcement 51 (hereinafter Collectively referred to as the export declaration form), fill in "Y" in the "Attached Document Code Column" in the "Attached Document Column" and "Certificate of Origin Number" in the "Attached Document Number Column". In the "document correspondence table", fill in the correspondence between the declared commodity items on the customs declaration form and the commodity items on the certificate of origin.

▲   France: eBay will share seller's French taxable transaction data

      From January 2020, the French anti-fraud law will come into effect. eBay will share the French taxable transaction data of sellers with French law enforcement agencies according to legal requirements, and will be jointly and severally liable for sellers who do not comply with VAT.

      Generally speaking, if any of the following situations is met, the seller has the obligation to fulfill the French VAT:

• Sell items stored in France;
• Sales of goods stored in EU countries (except France) to French individuals, and the total sales of such sales in all channels exceeds 35,000 euros/year.
• Sellers can ask professional legal or tax professionals if they have the obligation to register for French VAT. If the seller has the obligation to register French VAT, please complete the registration as soon as possible.
• Please understand that tax evasion is a serious illegal act. eBay will continue to collaborate with French tax authorities to restrict measures against non-compliant sellers. The restrictive measures will include, but are not limited to: removal of items, account restrictions or suspension.

      For more information on French VAT for non-EU registered companies, please refer to the following website of the French tax authority:
      https://www.impots.gouv.fr/portail/internationalenbusiness/value-added-tax?l=en

(This article only mentions the new foreign trade regulations of some countries and regions. For more information, please check the official website of the corresponding country.)