relative file path for layout
Skip to main content  Skip to search  Skip to main menu
Trade and Industry Department The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Brand Hong Kong - Asia world city
MY COLOUR

Commercial Information Circulars

24-hour hotline : 23 922 922

e-mail address : enquiry@tid.gov.hk

Ref : EIC 230/5/4/10

3 April 2003

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 95/2003

European Union (EU)* :Phasing Out of Community Quotas for Certain Non-textile Products Originating in the Mainland of China

Further to Commercial Information Circular No. 142/2002 of 30 July 2002, the Council of the EU (the Council) has adopted a Regulation to progressively liberalise the Community quotas imposed on three categories of non-textile products (viz. certain footwear, porcelain or china tableware and kitchenware, and ceramic tableware or kitchenware) originating in the mainland of China. Such Community quotas will be completely phased out by 2005.

DETAILS

  1. Commercial Information Circular No. 142/2002 of 30 July 2002 informed the trade that the European Commission (EC) had submitted to the Council a proposal to provide for a gradual phasing-out of the Community quotas. The proposal was subsequently adopted in the form of a Regulation which entered into force on 9 March 2003. Under the Regulation, the following liberalisation measures are introduced -

    1. the surveillance measures on the imports of certain sensitive products# from the mainland of China are abolished with immediate effect;
       

    2. the quota levels for the three categories of non-textile products (as set out in paragraph 1) for 2003 and 2004 would be adjusted upward as shown in columns (e) and (f) of Annex I (pdf format) with complete removal of quotas in 2005; and
       

    3. for 2002 and 2003 of which quotas have already been allocated (please refer to Commercial Information Circular No. 169/2001 of 1 November 2001 and No. 240/2002 of 14 December 2002 for details of the allocation), the quota level of each individual import licence will be increased by a specified percentage as shown in columns (c) and (d) of Annex I (pdf format).

  2. For the additional quantities resulting from the increase in the quota levels for 2002 and 2003, the EC has adopted a separate Regulation (at Annex II (pdf format)) establishing the following allocation procedures -

    1. in respect of import licence issued for 2002, the competent authority shall issue an additional licence for the additional quantities. The additional licence will be valid until 31 December 2003; and
       

    2. in respect of import licence issued for 2003, the competent authority shall: (i) enter a reference on the licence indicating that the additional quantity has been allocated to the licence holder, or (ii) cancel the licence and issue a new licence reflecting the additional quantities, or (iii) issue an additional licence for the additional quantities.

ENQUIRIES

  1. For enquiries about the contents of this Circular, please contact the undersigned at telephone number 2398 5684.

Yours faithfully,

(Miss Sandra SOU)

for Director-General of Trade and Industry

* : The EU member states are Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

#: The surveillance measures were introduced by the EC in 1994 to keep imports of a variety of products originating in the mainland of China, e.g. certain footwear, bicycles, toys, under closer observation in cases where the trend gave cause for concern but was not of immediate danger to the Community industry. Please refer to Commercial Information Circular No. 41/00 of 21 March 2000 for the full list of products subject to surveillance.

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.