The first nationwide "TIR+bonded" cross-border e-commerce import business has landed in Qingdao (pictured)

The picture shows: Customs officers supervising TIR vehicles entering the comprehensive security zone, photographed by Li Hongyu

On March 26th, a TIR international transport vehicle loaded with 15.1 tons of Russian specialty products such as pastries and candies entered the Qingdao Airport Comprehensive Bonded Zone and entered the bonded warehouse, waiting for customers on the e-commerce platform to place orders. This is the first "TIR+Bonded" cross-border e-commerce import business in China.

TIR transportation is an international cross-border road transportation model established in accordance with the United Nations Convention on International Road Transport. Its core advantage is "one declaration, one vehicle direct, one box to the end". Goods do not need to be repeatedly inspected, changed or reversed throughout the entire process in the contracting countries along the route, greatly reducing transportation time and logistics costs.

At the beginning of this year, the General Administration of Customs issued a notice to include cross-border e-commerce goods and bonded goods in the scope of TIR transportation. As one of the first pilot customs, Qingdao Customs has successfully launched the "TIR+bonded" export business. Based on this, the types of goods will be expanded to import cross-border e-commerce goods, making it more convenient for foreign goods to enter thousands of households.

In this "TIR+Bonded" cross-border e-commerce import business, cross-border e-commerce imported goods are transported by TIR vehicles and arrive at the Qingdao Airport Comprehensive Bonded Zone. After entering the zone, they are bonded immediately, and enterprises do not need to pay customs duties and value-added tax immediately. The customs clearance, tax payment, and outbound process will be completed after the order is generated.

According to Gai Qishan, the manager of Qingdao Qianlihang International Logistics Co., Ltd., under the new model, enterprises not only enjoy the price advantage of TIR transportation costs and the direct transportation time throughout the process, but also can store imported goods in bonded warehouses in the comprehensive bonded zone, significantly reducing operating costs.

According to estimates, the cost of international road transportation is about 25% of air transportation, and the transportation time is twice as long as that of railways. The new model can fully utilize the advantages of the five existing TIR international road transportation routes and the country's top shipping volume in the SCO demonstration zone, combined with the policy advantages of the comprehensive bonded zone, to further enhance the attractiveness of TIR transportation.