Starting from August, these new customs policies and economic and trade regulations will officially come into effect! Cross border trade must see →

August has arrived, and a batch of new policies and regulations related to customs supervision, tariff adjustments, and compliance requirements have been implemented one after another, covering multiple fields such as import and export commodity management, cross-border logistics, and tax collection and management, which will directly affect the entire chain of cross-border trade. Here are some key new regulations at home and abroad that companies need to prepare in advance to ensure compliant operations.

 

Domestic article: Multiple departments implement new regulations, covering the entire import and export process

1.Relaxation of import management for recycled raw materials, clarifying that they do not belong to solid waste

The Ministry of Ecology and Environment and six other departments jointly issued a notice to standardize the import management of recycled black powder raw materials and recycled steel raw materials for lithium-ion batteries from August 1st. The two types of raw materials that meet the performance indicators do not belong to solid waste and can be freely imported to help upgrade the circular economy industry chain.

2.Implementation of mutual recognition of AEO between China and Thailand, and China and Benin, improving customs clearance efficiency

The announcement from the General Administration of Customs shows that from August 1st, China, Thailand, and Benin will officially implement mutual recognition arrangements for "Authorized Economic Operator" (AEO). AEO enterprises can enjoy convenience such as reduced inspection rates and priority customs clearance, further reducing cross-border logistics time.

3.Products outside the legal inspection catalog will be included in spot checks, with a focus on consumer product safety

Starting from August 1st, the customs will conduct spot checks on some imported and exported goods beyond the statutory inspection:

Import: student stationery, baby and toddler products, electronic products, household appliances, etc;

Exports: children's toys, lighting fixtures, low-voltage electrical appliances, functional clothing, etc.

Spot checks aim to strengthen the supervision of consumer product quality, and enterprises need to conduct quality self inspections in advance.

4.Hong Kong's Stablecoins Ordinance comes into effect, regulating cryptocurrency related activities

Starting from August 1st, Hong Kong's "Stablecoins Ordinance" officially came into effect, establishing a stablecoin activity licensing system, strengthening the supervision of stablecoin issuance, trading and other activities, and promoting the compliant development of the virtual asset field.

5.Customs declaration documents can be self queried and printed, with a pilot coverage of customs in 10 regions

Starting from August 1st, 10 pilot customs offices in Beijing, Manzhouli, Fuzhou, Xiamen, Qingdao, etc. will support enterprises to self-service query and print customs declaration documents and data within the storage period, further optimizing the port business environment and improving the efficiency of enterprise handling.

6.Adjustment of processing trade deposit interest rate, calculated based on current deposits

Starting from August 1st, when refunding the deposit and interest for restricted goods in processing trade, the interest will be calculated based on the bank's current deposit interest rate for the same period, in line with the market-oriented interest rate reform and to reduce the cost of enterprise funds.

7.Strengthen the supervision of cosmetics and traditional Chinese medicine decoction pieces, clarify risk monitoring and shelf life requirements

The "Management Measures for Monitoring and Evaluating Safety Risks of Cosmetics" issued by the National Medical Products Administration will be implemented on August 1st, focusing on monitoring five categories of risk substances including illegal additives and sensitive ingredients for children/pregnant women;

Traditional Chinese medicine decoction pieces must be labeled with a shelf life starting from August 1st, and the label must include information such as place of origin, production enterprise, and implementation standards. Decoction pieces produced from imported medicinal materials can be labeled with a customs clearance number.

8.Add allowed import and export goods, involving fruits, deer antler, etc

Allow the import of Ecuadorian fresh mangoes and New Zealand deer antlers that meet the requirements;

Fresh Chinese pomelos can be exported to New Zealand, subject to meeting the quarantine requirements of both parties and expanding cross-border trade channels for agricultural products.

 

International article: Multiple countries adjust tariffs, regulations come into effect, trade compliance risks increase

1.The United States launches multi country "equivalent tariffs", imposing a 50% tariff on semi-finished copper products

Starting from August 1st, a 15% tariff will be imposed on the European Union, Japan, South Korea, and others, while a 19% -20% tariff will be imposed on Indonesia, Vietnam, and others. Negotiations are still ongoing with India, Malaysia, and others;

An additional 50% tariff will be imposed on imported semi-finished copper (copper tubes, copper wires, etc.) and copper intensive products, excluding copper ore, waste, etc., which will impact the electronics and electrical industry chain.

2.Canada imposes taxes on products containing Chinese steel components

Starting from August 1st, the scope of steel tariff quotas will be expanded, and additional taxes will be levied on imports outside the quota; Imposing a 25% additional tax on products imported from countries outside the United States that contain melted/cast steel from China has led to an increase in steel trade costs.

3.The EU battery EPR regulation will come into effect on August 18th, and exporters need to complete registration

The EU Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulation for batteries requires exporters to complete EPR registration in each EU member state, regularly report battery sales data, and pay environmental fees. The reporting period varies by country.

4.US Mexico suspends/raises tariffs on low value goods, affecting e-commerce packages

Starting from August 29th, the United States will suspend the tax-free treatment for non postal packages below $800 in all countries and require full taxation (similar policies between China and Hong Kong have been terminated previously);

Starting from August 15th, Mexico will increase the import tax on low value packages (less than $2500) from 19% to 33.5%, mainly targeting countries that have not signed free trade agreements or may affect cross-border e-commerce platforms.

5.New regulations have been implemented in countries such as Vietnam, Brazil, and India

Vietnam: Starting from August 1st, imported goods below 1 million Vietnamese dong will automatically pay value-added tax, covering express delivery channels such as air and road transportation;

Brazil: imposes anti-dumping duties of $62.65-777.79 per ton on phthalic anhydride in China for a period of 5 years (excluding packaging weighing less than 1 kilogram);

India: Starting from August 1st, stainless steel pipes exported to India must obtain BIS certification and be labeled, with an annual exemption of 500 kilograms for research and development purposes.

6.Saudi Arabia updates control list, shipping companies intensively adjust August freight rates

Saudi Arabia will include personal protective equipment, paper products, detergents, etc. under control within 30 days and must comply with technical regulations;

Maersk, Hapag Lloyd, and others will increase the fees for multiple routes starting from August

Multiple countries from Asia Pacific to Africa impose peak season surcharges ($500 for 20 foot containers and $1000 for 40 foot containers);

The comprehensive rate for routes from the Far East to the west coast of South America has increased by $1000 per container.

Important holiday reminders for multiple countries in August (affecting customs clearance/transportation efficiency)

August 1st: Swiss National Day

August 6th: Bolivian Independence Day

August 9th: Singapore National Day

August 12th: Mother's Day in Thailand

August 17th: Indonesian Independence Day

August 26th: Philippine National Heroes Day

August 31st: National Day of Malaysia

 

Reminder: The new regulations in August have a wide scope and profound impact. It is recommended that companies sort out the product categories and trade countries involved in their business in advance, coordinate with customs and logistics service providers, ensure compliance with customs clearance, and reduce cost risks.

 

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