RCEP Accelerates the "Smart Transformation" of Changshu's Textile and Apparel Industry (Photo)
The picture shows: Customs officers from Changshu Customs are learning about the production status of goods at the enterprise. Photographed by Lu Yan
The picture shows enterprise staff printing the certificate of origin. Photographed by Lu Yan
2025 marks the fourth year since the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) officially came into effect. Since the implementation of RCEP, as of November this year, Changshu Customs, which is under the jurisdiction of Nanjing Customs, has issued approximately 18,000 RCEP certificates of origin, with a total value of 6.11 billion yuan.
As one of the important textile and apparel industry belts in China, Changshu's textile and apparel industry has formed a hundred-billion-yuan industrial cluster, with over 4,000 enterprises clustered along the industrial chain. According to statistics from Changshu Customs, from January to November this year, Changshu's textile and apparel exports reached 20.79 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 5.5%.
"In recent years, our group has actively explored the application of artificial intelligence technology. For example, in the product design process, we have achieved a full-process digital closed loop from design conception to virtual garment delivery, shortening the sample garment production cycle from 100 days to 72 hours and reducing development costs by more than 60%." Li Ya, Deputy General Manager of Changshu Bosideng Import and Export Co., Ltd., explained that as most of its customers are from RCEP member countries, the company actively applied for the application of the agreement in its first year after it came into effect and completed the declaration under the guidance of customs. From January to November this year, the company applied for a total of 126 RCEP certificates, with a total value of 44.48 million yuan, which is expected to bring about 1.32 million yuan in tariff benefits to customers.
To help enterprises further enjoy policy dividends, a list of benefits enjoyed by key enterprises and industries has been established to precisely identify policy coverage gaps. One-on-one assistance and guidance are provided to enterprises that "could enjoy but have not enjoyed" the benefits, ensuring they fully utilize the RCEP policy benefits. Furthermore, based on the construction of a "smart customs" and the needs of serving enterprises, Changshu Customs continues to promote the convenient model of "paperless declaration + intelligent review + self-service printing" for origin verification, achieving "instant issuance and release" of certificates, effectively enhancing service efficiency.
"Next, we will focus on optimizing the business environment, continue to promote the further effectiveness of the RCEP policy, and assist more local characteristic industries in achieving high-quality development by providing targeted services to meet enterprise needs," said Wang Shujun, Deputy Director of Changshu Customs. (Jiang Guanyi, Ni Hao/Text)