The General Administration of Customs ("GAC") has recently issued the Announcement [2018] No.198 to launch a regulatory reform on "shipment of cargo from special areas first and customs declaration next" in areas under special customs supervision and bonded logistics centers (Type B) (the "Centers"). This announcement has taken effect immediately from the date of issuance.
The announcement provides clarity in three respects as below. First, the term "shipment of cargo from special areas first and customs declaration next" as mentioned in the announcement means a business processing mode under which enterprises within areas under special customs supervision and the centers are allowed to go through formalities via the information systems with the verification and release documents to have cargo transported out of the special areas and centers first, and then handle customs declaration affairs. Second, for cargo eligible for the "shipment of cargo from special areas first and customs declaration next" mode, enterprises shall have them cleared by the customs by the national integrated customs clearance means. Third, the term "information systems" as mentioned in this announcement refers to the management system for areas under special customs supervision and the management system for bonded logistics, developed for the Gold Customs Phase II.