Fujian's Quarantine and Inspection authorities have announced a series of new policies to promote trade between Fujian and Taiwan, reported China News Service on Monday.
Customers pick imported snacks at a store in the Fuzhou Area of the Fujian Pilot Free Trade Zone, July 10, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua] |
Under new pilot procedures, food and farm products imported from Taiwan and aquatic products imported from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will undergo simplified customs inspections at ports in Fujian.
To exempt Taiwan-imported products from most customs procedures in the near future, in August Fujian and Taiwan agreed to share and recognize the quarantine results of one anothers' cargo , a milestone that is believed to make customs inspection even more convenient.
These are benefits from the Fujian Pilot Free Trade Zone (FTZ) which was set up in April.
Fuzhou and Pingtan, both parts of the Fujian FTZ, have been actively exploring cross-border e-commerce and bonded imports of Taiwan products, and have seen positive results, authorities said.
A sea express delivery system has been normalized between Pingtan and Taiwan. Two passenger liners carry mail and parcels between them, with a transit time of 3 hours and a cost about 40 percent cheaper than previous methods.
Fujian is also cooperating with Guangdong, Guangxi and Hainan to consolidate a regional customs inspection system by the end of September, which will further boost free mobility of exports and imports in South China.
Data show that Fujian ports have saved 43 million yuan ($6.7 million) in the first seven months of 2015, through a variety of inspection measures and innovations .
The province has also signed 37,000 certificates of origins which led to an $80 million tariff break for importers.