Certificate of Origin Circulars

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

Ref: FRCP 1000/2/1

29 November 2013

Dear Sirs,

Certificate of Origin Circular No. 7/2013

Commercial Information Circular No. 953/2013

Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA)

CEPA Rules of Origin for Goods Applying for Zero Tariff in the Second Half of 2013

Introduction

This circular sets out the rules of origin (ROOs) for goods applying for zero tariff under CEPA in the second half of 2013.

ROOs for Goods Applying for Zero Tariff in the Second Half of 2013

2.Since the implementation of CEPA, the Mainland and Hong Kong have reached agreement on the ROOs for 1,774 Mainland 2013 tariff codes. These products will be eligible for zero tariff preference under CEPA provided that their respective ROOs and relevant conditions are met. With effect from 1 January 2014, three Mainland tariff codes will be added to the list of goods eligible for tariff preference under CEPA. The relevant tariff codes and the corresponding ROOs are set out at the Annex (pdf format). A full list of the 1,777 tariff codes under CEPA and their respective ROOs can be downloaded from the following website: https://www.tid.gov.hk/english/cepa/tradegoods/files/mainland_2013.pdf.

Application and Issue of Certificate of Origin – CEPA ["CO(CEPA)"]

3.Traders may wish to note that the implementation date under CEPA for the products classified under the three Mainland 2013 tariff codes mentioned in paragraph 2 above is 1 January 2014. Traders can submit CO(CEPA) applications to the Trade and Industry Department or one of the five Government Approved Certification Organizations (GACOs)¹ to cover the products under the three Mainland tariff codes by around end December 2013. Such CO(CEPA) applications, if approved, will be valid for claiming zero tariff preference starting from 1 January 2014. Besides, traders may wish to note that adjustments in the Mainland tariff codes for 2014 will result in corresponding changes in the tariff codes set out in the full list referred in paragraph 2 above. Traders should quote the tariff codes stipulated in the applicable "Customs Tariff of Import and Export of the People's Republic of China" when submitting applications for CO(CEPA). Detailed procedures for submitting CO(CEPA) applications will be announced in a separate circular to be issued in end December 2013 when such information is available.

Enquiries

4.Should you require further information on the content of this circular, please contact us through any of the following channels -

Yours faithfully,

(Miss Janice LAU)

for Director-General of Trade and Industry

1.  The five GACOs are the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce; the Federation of Hong Kong Industries; the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong; the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce and the Indian Chamber of Commerce, Hong Kong.