To Establish 'Overseas Warehouse' in RCEP Countries, a New Opportunity for Henan Exporters

To Establish 'Overseas Warehouse' in RCEP Countries, a New Opportunity for Henan Exporters

河南企业出口新机遇——在 RCEP成员国建设“海外仓”

China formally signed the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, or RCEP, on November 15, 2020, not only a milestone in its opening-up, but also a major achievement after its accession to the WTO. What opportunities will the RCEP throw up for the enterprises in Central China's Henan province?

《区域全面经济伙伴关系协定》（以下简称“RCEP”）已于2020年11月15日正式签署，这是我国对外开放的里程碑事件，也是我国继加入世贸组织后又一重大开放成果。RCEP会给河南企业带来哪些机遇？

To establish "overseas warehouse" in RCEP countries, a new opportunity for Henan exporters. [Photo provided to Dahe Daily]

To promote Henan's foreign trade under the RCEP framework, 12 measures have been implemented, said Zhengzhou Customs on June 7, including expanding exports and high-quality imports, strengthening support for enterprises, facilitating customs clearance, safeguarding high-level opening-up, and further optimizing business environment.

郑州海关6月7日发布消息称，为服务RCEP生效实施，促进河南外贸发展，郑州海关推出了十二条举措。记者梳理十二条举措，可总结为五大方面：支持扩大出口、扩大高质量进口；加大企业扶持力度；提升通关便利化水平；为高水平开放保驾护航；进一步优化营商环境。

What benefits will local enterprises and residents obtain from the policy of expanding exports and high-quality imports? According to a source from Zhengzhou Customs, they will carefully analyze tariff concessions of the other 14 RCEP member countries to find out both the MFN and the RCEP tariff rates for Henan's competitive products in agriculture, mechanic engineering, textile industry, chemical industry, etc. Besides, key enterprises will be selected. Guided with targeted support schemes, these enterprises are to fully enjoy the RCEP tariff rates and expand exports in a more oriented way.

支持扩大出口、扩大高质量进口的举措，对河南企业、市民生活将产生哪些影响？郑州海关相关负责人介绍，郑州海关将认真研究RCEP其他14国的关税减让情况，梳理农产品、机械、纺织、化工等河南优势产品在RCEP各成员国的最惠国税率和协定税率，确定重点企业名单，制定精准帮扶方案，指导企业充分享受RCEP协定税率，有针对性地扩大出口。

"The export of Henan's featured products, such as wig products, down-filled coats, shoes and agricultural products, to the RCEP member countries through cross-border e-commerce trade is supported, so is the establishment of 'overseas warehouse' in such countries by Henan's cross-border e-commerce exporters to enhance their market competitiveness," said the source.

“支持假发制品、羽绒服、鞋靴和农产品等河南特色产品通过跨境电子商务渠道扩大对RCEP成员国出口。联合商务部门支持河南跨境电商出口企业在RCEP成员国建设‘海外仓’，提高市场竞争力。”该负责人说。

As for high-quality imports, Zhengzhou Customs will deeply analyze Henan's industrial structure, consumer and market demand to not only actively expand the imports of advanced technologies, important equipment and key spare parts from the RCEP member countries but support the imports of daily consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, rehabilitation and old-age care equipment to improve the quality of the supply system and to meet the demands for upgrading consumption within the province. Besides, Henan's cross-border e-commerce importers are also supported to expand their procurement of products from the RCEP member countries.

高质量进口方面，郑州海关将深入分析河南产业结构和消费市场需求，积极扩大协定成员国先进技术、重要设备、关键零部件进口，支持日用消费品、医药和康复、养老护理等设备进口，提升省内供给体系质量，满足人民群众消费升级需求。支持河南跨境电商进口企业扩大对RCEP成员国的商品采购。

Dubbed the free trade areas with the world's largest population, business scale and development potential, the RCEP member countries cover about 30 percent of the world's population, business scale and total exports. In 2020, Henan's import and export trade with the RCEP member countries totaled 187.8 billion yuan, accounting for about 28 percent of the provincial total, of whom the ASEAN, South Korea, Japan and Australia became the province's 2nd, 5th, 6th and 9th largest trade partner. For Henan, the RCEP agreement is bound to help the province to follow the international high-level economic and trade rules, to accelerate opening-up based on related rules and institutions and to develop a new system for an open economy at a higher level.

据悉，RCEP成员国人口数量、经贸规模和出口总额均占全球总量约30%，是世界上人口最多、经贸规模最大、最具发展潜力的自由贸易区。2020年，河南省对RCEP成员国进出口规模达1878亿元，约占全省总额28%，其中东盟、韩国、日本、澳大利亚分别为我省第2、第5、第6以及第9大贸易伙伴。对于我省而言，RCEP的签署将有助于对标国际高水平经贸规则，加快制度型开放，推动建设更高水平开放型经济新体制。（中文来源/大河报 翻译/赵汉青 审校/张军平）