24-hour hotline : 23 922 922
e-mail address : enquiry@tid.gov.hk
Ref: EIC 602/9
31 May 2019
Dear Sirs,
Certificate of Origin Circular No. 8/2019
Commercial Information Circular No. 421/2019
Certificate of Preference Circular No. 8/2019
Notice to Exporters :
Series 1 (USA) No. 8/2019
Series 2 (EU) No. 9/2019
Series 3 (Countries other than USA & EU) No. 8/2019
Textiles Trader Registration Circular No. 9/2019
ASEAN - Hong Kong, China Free Trade Agreement (AHKFTA)
Tariff Reduction Commitments of Laos, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam
I. Introduction
The parts relating to Hong Kong and five ASEAN member states1, namely Laos, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam, under the AHKFTA will enter into force on 11 June 2019. This Circular provides information on the tariff reduction commitments of the abovementioned five ASEAN member states for traders' general reference.
II. Details
2.The ASEAN member states have agreed to eliminate/reduce their customs duties on goods originating from Hong Kong upon the entry into force of the AHKFTA. In general terms, tariff lines subject to tariff reduction and/or elimination under the AHKFTA are categorised according to the modality set out at Appendix (pdf format). The tariff reduction commitments of the abovementioned five ASEAN member states are summarised in general as follows:
Laos
3.Laos will eliminate customs duties of about 50% of their tariff lines within eight years and another 15% of their tariff lines within 15 years. Besides, Laos will reduce customs duties of 10 % of their tariff lines to 0-5% within 17 years and another 10% of their tariff lines to not more than 50% within 20 years. About 15% of their tariff lines are on the exclusion list, under which the products will not be subject to any tariff reduction.
4.For illustration, products that will enjoy tariff free treatment within eight years include electrical machinery and equipment; machinery and mechanical appliances; organic chemicals; pharmaceutical products; precious metal and jewellery; and toys, games and sports requisites, etc.
5.For details of Laos' tariff reduction commitments, please go to the following link:
https://www.tid.gov.hk/english/ita/fta/hkasean/files/AHKFTA_Chapter_2_Annex_2-1_Part_5_Schedule_of_Lao_PDR.pdf.
Myanmar
6.Myanmar will eliminate customs duties of about 50% of their tariff lines within eight years and another 15% of their tariff lines within 15 years. Besides, Myanmar will reduce customs duties of 10% of their tariff lines to 0-5% within 17 years and another 10% of their tariff lines to not more than 50% within 20 years. About 15% of their tariff lines are on the exclusion list, under which the products will not be subject to any tariff reduction.
7.For illustration, products that will enjoy tariff free treatment within 15 years include electrical machinery and equipment; machinery and mechanical appliances; organic chemicals; pharmaceutical products; precious metal and jewellery; and watches and clocks, etc.
8.For details of Myanmar's tariff reduction commitments, please go to the following link:
https://www.tid.gov.hk/english/ita/fta/hkasean/files/AHKFTA_Chapter_2_Annex_2-1_Part_7_Schedule_of_Myanmar.pdf.
Singapore
9.Singapore commits to eliminate customs duties on all originating goods under the AHKFTA upon the entry into force of the AHKFTA.
Thailand
10.Thailand will eliminate customs duties of about 67% of their tariff lines within three years and another 18% of their tariff lines within 10 years. Besides, Thailand will reduce customs duties of about 5% of their tariff lines to 0-5% within 12 years and another 7% of their tariff lines to not more than 50% within 14 years. About 4% of their tariff lines are on the exclusion list, under which the products will not be subject to any tariff reduction.
11.For illustration, products that will enjoy tariff free treatment within three years include electrical machinery and equipment; machinery and mechanical appliances; optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; and pharmaceutical products, etc.
12.For details of Thailand's tariff reduction commitments, please go to the following link:
https://www.tid.gov.hk/english/ita/fta/hkasean/files/AHKFTA_Chapter_2_Annex_2-1_Part_10_Schedule_of_Thailand.pdf.
Viet Nam
13.Viet Nam will eliminate customs duties of about 51% of their tariff lines within three years and another 25% of their tariff lines within 10 years. Besides, Viet Nam will reduce customs duties of 5% of their tariff lines to 0-5% within 12 years and another 5% of their tariff lines to not more than 50% within 14 years. About 15% of their tariff lines are on the exclusion list, under which the products will not be subject to any tariff reduction.
14.For illustration, products that will enjoy tariff free treatment within three years include precious metal and jewellery; watches and clocks; machinery and mechanical appliances; electrical machinery and equipment; and plastics, etc.
15.For details of Viet Nam's tariff reduction commitments, please go to the following link:
https://www.tid.gov.hk/english/ita/fta/hkasean/files/AHKFTA_Chapter_2_Annex_2-1_Part_11_Schedule_of_Viet_Nam.pdf.
III. Tariff Enquiry
16.For on-line enquiry service of preferential tariff rates under the AHKFTA, please refer to the "Tariff Enquiry Form" at the following link:
https://www.tid.gov.hk/english/trade_relations/tariffenquiry/tariffenquiry.html.
IV. Rules of Origin and Related Requirements
17.To enjoy the preferential tariff treatment of trade in goods under the AHKFTA, Hong Kong traders need to comply with the relevant preferential rules of origin and fulfil the related requirements. Applications for certificates of origin should be made to the Trade and Industry Department (TID) or Government Approved Certification Organizations of Hong Kong. For details, please refer to the relevant trade circulars issued by the TID at https://www.tid.gov.hk/english/aboutus/tradecircular/coc/2019/coc2019.html.
V. Enquiries
18.The Department will inform traders of the entry into force of the AHKFTA between Hong Kong and the other five ASEAN member states (Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines) as soon as the dates are confirmed. Please visit TID's website (https://www.tid.gov.hk/english/ita/fta/hkasean/index.html) to keep abreast of the latest information from time to time.
19.For enquiries, please contact us through the following channels:
| Tariff | Tel. : 2398 5594 Fax : 2787 7799 E-mail : enquiry@tid.gov.hk |
| Rules of Origin, Certificate of Origin and Factory Registration | Tel. : 2398 5545 Fax : 2787 6048 E-mail : co_enquiry@tid.gov.hk |
Yours faithfully,
(Miss Venus KO)
for Director-General of Trade and Industry
Encl. (pdf format)
Note : While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the above information, the Department cannot guarantee this to be so and will not be held liable for any reliance placed on the same.
1 ASEAN comprises Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam.