Breaking: China Customs Releases New Policies to Facilitate Customs Clearance

 On January 16, 2026, the official website of the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China unveiled 25 Measures to Facilitate Cross-Border Trade, focusing on delivering tangible benefits to enterprises and the public.

The measures strengthen the joint incentives for high-credit enterprises (AEOs), further promote AEO information sharing, and increase support from financial institutions in financing, credit guarantees, export credit insurance, and more. Port logistics services will be optimized: port operators are encouraged to adopt flexible container "yard opening" times, helping shippers better plan logistics.

Key improvements include:
 - Average customs declaration time cut by 40%
 - AEO Advanced Certification enterprises enjoy 32 benefits, including priority inspection and duty-free release
 - Cross-border e-commerce return cycle shortened from 14 days to within 72 hours for full closed-loop processing
 - Tax exemption quota for imported integrated circuit equipment increased by 27% year-on-year, with automatic system verification of eligibility

The policies also aim to reduce overall cross-border logistics costs, standardize fees at import-export links, and support cost reduction and efficiency gains for China's "New Three" exports (electric vehicles, lithium batteries, solar panels) via maritime service improvements.

Key Policy Highlights
 These measures take effect March 1, 2026, and include:
 - Simplified declaration processes, expanded use of "Advance Declaration + Two-Step Declaration"
 - AEO mutual recognition expanded to 38 countries
 - New one-stop supervision model for cross-border e-commerce returns, with national connectivity of bonded return warehouses
 - Tariff and VAT exemptions for imported equipment in key sectors: integrated circuits, biomedicine, etc.
 - Enterprises can access policy matching advice and compliance self-check tools via the Single Window platform

Efficient & Smooth Cross-Border Logistics
 - Strengthen connectivity between transport corridors and modes, linking major sea routes such as the Silk Road Maritime with the China-Europe Railway Express and New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor
 - Support the development of cross-border railway assembly centers
 - Promote international road transport
 - Implement "airside direct access" supervision at air ports to streamline pickup, unloading and security checks

Support for New Business Forms & Models
 - Fully implement policies for cross-border e-commerce: "Tax refund upon departure, post-sale accounting"
 - Expand green trade and imports/exports of green and energy-saving technologies & services
 - Simplify air transport requirements for lithium-ion battery and other powered products, under aviation safety standards

Optimized Supervision for Special Commodities (Automotive Focus)
 - Improved inspection and supervision for exported lithium batteries
 - Implement export quality and safety upgrading initiatives to support the healthy trade of electric passenger vehicles and lithium batteries
 - Allow bonded testing of auto parts and other export goods in comprehensive bonded zones, with pilot enterprise and product "white lists"
 - Expand the pilot program of "two certificates integrated" for imported motor vehicles to simplify documentation and procedures

Smarter Customs Supervision & Services
 - Deepen the global Smart Customs online cooperation platform and BRICS Customs Demonstration Center
 - Advance cross-border connectivity of the International Trade Single Window, enabling electronic certificate exchange for international ships, inspection and quarantine
 - Promote "joint inspection, one-time release" for international vessels