RCEP: Tianjin enterprises enjoy benefits for four years, with import and export value reaching 35.5 billion yuan
Since the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) came into effect four years ago, Tianjin Customs has assisted local enterprises in importing goods under RCEP worth 26.15 billion yuan, achieving tariff concessions of 890 million yuan. Enterprises have applied for 23,000 RCEP certificates of origin for export goods, with a beneficiary value of 9.35 billion yuan, and the total beneficiary value of imports and exports amounts to 35.5 billion yuan.
Recently, a tank container loaded with 20 tons of lubricating oil additives from Singapore was lifted off a cargo ship and onto an unmanned truck at Tianjin Port. It will soon be transported to a processing plant for the production of lubricating oil.
"After the implementation of RCEP, the tariff rate for lubricating oil additives has been reduced from 6.5% to 0%. By using a certificate of origin for declaration, we can enjoy zero-tariff customs clearance. In 2025 alone, we saved 1.68 million yuan in import costs. This is a good policy that brings real benefits," said Cao Ying, the foreign trade manager of Sinopec International Tianjin Co., Ltd.
As the largest free trade agreement in the world, RCEP has continuously released policy dividends since its implementation in 2022, providing tangible benefits to foreign trade enterprises. The tariff reduction policy has become one of the main highlights of the RCEP agreement, playing a significant role in stabilizing the security of industrial and supply chains, reducing trade costs within the region, and enhancing product competitiveness.
Since the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) four years ago, in addition to reducing tariff costs for trade in goods among its members, customs authorities have also introduced measures such as self-service printing and electronic data networking, further enhancing the level of customs clearance facilitation.
"We export over 100 batches of bicycle parts and components to countries like Indonesia every month, and we need to apply for a certificate of origin for each batch. After the customs introduced the self-service printing measures, we no longer need to go to the customs site to handle visa procedures. With just a click on the computer, we can print out the certificate with the customs seal and signature. It's really convenient," said Song Mingwei, the customs declaration manager of Tianjin Textile Group Import and Export Co., Ltd.
In order to further stabilize foreign trade, promote development, and enhance the utilization level of RCEP tariff policies by enterprises within its jurisdiction, Tianjin Customs has leveraged the China Customs Preferential Origin Service Platform, the Tianjin RCEP Tariff Policy Inquiry Public Service Platform, and other platforms to establish a precise assistance ledger for "eligible but unutilized" enterprises. By combining initiatives such as "Customs Director's Policy Delivery to the Doorstep" and policy briefings, it has continuously expanded the coverage of free trade agreement policies. The "intelligent review + self-service printing" visa model has been continuously promoted, compressing the review of certificates of origin to "second-level" processing, enabling enterprises to obtain certificates of origin "without leaving home" and helping them reduce costs and improve efficiency. In 2025, the value of goods imported under the RCEP agreement at Tianjin Port amounted to 6.85 billion yuan, representing a year-on-year increase of 12.7%. This resulted in a tariff reduction of 190 million yuan for enterprises, marking a year-on-year increase of 33.7%. Export enterprises applied for 7,800 RCEP certificates of origin from customs, with a total value of 2.64 billion yuan, representing year-on-year increases of 15.2% and 8%, respectively. (Written by Zhao Haijian)