On January 1, when the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) came into effect, Zhejiang Haers Vacuum Containers Co., Ltd. successfully became the first exporter approved under RCEP in Zhejiang Province. After approval, an enterprise does not need to apply for a certificate of origin from customs one by one when exporting goods and can independently issue a declaration of origin with the same effect as the certificate of origin at any time. This method will greatly improve customs clearance efficiency.

To be considered under RCEP, companies need to meet three requirements. Firstly, companies must be high-level customs certification ones; secondly, companies must master the rules of origin under relevant preferential trade agreements; lastly, companies must establish a complete management system of the origin qualification documents. After becoming an approved exporter, a company can independently issue a declaration of origin at any time to enjoy benefits abroad for exporting goods. The effect is equivalent to a certificate of origin issued by customs, and it is an important facilitation measure of origin certification.

Haers is a listed company that manufactures stainless steel vacuum insulation utensils. In 2021, the company exported 260 million RMB to other RCEP member countries and applied for nearly 700 certificates of origin, including for China, South Korea, ASEAN, and other free trade agreements. The approved RCEP has saved the company a lot of labor and financial costs. (By Luo Yi, translated by Huang Dan, edited by Mariam Ayad)