| Ref.: CERT 711
20 February
1998
Dear Sirs,
Commercial
Information Circular No. 26/98
Certificate
of Preference Circular No. 4/98
Graduation
of Hong Kong from the
Swiss
Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) Scheme
Commercial Information
Circular No.113/97 cum Certificate of Preference Circular No. 9/97 of
6 August 1997 informed traders that Hong Kong will be graduated from the
Swiss Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) Scheme with effect from
1 March 1998. The Department has subsequently received information from
the Swiss Government that no transitional arrangements will
be available under Hong Kong's graduation from the Swiss GSP Scheme. Details
are set out in the following paragraphs.
Details
- Hong Kong will
be graduated from the Swiss GSP Scheme with effect from 1 March
1998. The Swiss authority has confirmed that there will be no
transitional arrangements. As such, goods of Hong Kong origin currently
accorded tariff reduction under the Swiss GSP Scheme will no longer
enjoy the tariff preferences from then onwards. More specifically, goods
which are shipped from Hong Kong before 1 March 1998 but arriving in
Switzerland on or after 1 March 1998, as well as goods which arrive
in Switzerland before 1 March 1998 but are withdrawn from the warehouse
for customs clearance on or after 1 March 1998 will not
be eligible for the Swiss GSP.
- In view of the
above, traders are requested to note that the Department will cease
to accept applications for Certificate of Origin Form A covering exports
to Switzerland from 26 February 1998 onwards. Moreover,
those Form A applications covering consignments destined for Switzerland
and bearing a departure date on or after 1 March 1998
will not be accepted for processing. All Form A applications covering
exports to Switzerland lodged with the Department before 26 February
1998 will be issued on or before 28 February 1998. As there will be
no transitional arrangements, traders are reminded to present their
Form As to Swiss Customs on or before 28 February 1998
in order to enjoy tariff preferences.
Enquiries
- Should you require
further information on the contents of this Circular, please contact
Mr. K. M. Ng of Generalised Preference Certificate Section, Certification
Branch at telephone number 2398 5545.
Yours faithfully,
(s.d.)
(Matt Ho)
for All Trade and
Industrial Associations
All Subscribers of
Commercial Information Circulars
All Subscribers of
Certification Branch Circulars
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and efficient enquiry service - please use Trade Department 24hours
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