Certificate of Origin Circulars

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Ref. ： FRCP 1000/2/1

30 November 2016

Dear Sirs,

Certificate of Origin Circular No. 4/2016

Commercial Information Circular No. 887/2016

Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA)
CEPA Rules of Origin for Goods Applying for Zero Tariff in the Second Half of 2016

Introduction

This circular sets out the CEPA rules of origin (ROOs) developed for four products applying for zero tariff under CEPA in the second half of 2016 (detailed in paragraph 2 below) and the revised CEPA ROOs for two products (detailed in paragraph 3 below).

CEPA ROOs for Goods Applying for Zero Tariff

2.Since the implementation of CEPA, the Mainland and Hong Kong have so far reached agreement on the ROOs for 1,819 Mainland tariff codes. Products are eligible for zero tariff under CEPA if they meet respective ROOs and other relevant conditions. With effect from 1 January 2017, four Mainland tariff codes will be added to the list of goods eligible for zero tariff under CEPA. Please refer to the Annex I (pdf format) for the corresponding ROOs under CEPA. A full list of the 1,823 Mainland tariff codes under CEPA and their respective ROOs is available here.

Amendment of CEPA ROOs

3.In addition, with effective from 1 January 2017, the Mainland General Administration of Customs will revise the CEPA origin criteria for products of two Mainland tariff codes. Please refer to Annex II (pdf format) for the revised CEPA ROOs of the products.

Application and Issue of Certificate of Origin – CEPA ["CO(CEPA)"]

4.Traders can lodge CO(CEPA) applications to the Trade and Industry Department and the five Government Approved Certification Organizations (GACOs)¹. CO(CEPA) applications, if approved, will be valid for claiming zero tariff preference. As regards the product mentioned in paragraph 2 above, traders can lodge CO(CEPA) applications by around end December 2016 to enjoy zero tariff preference on or after 1 January 2017.

5.Upon submission of applications for CO(CEPA), traders should quote the tariff codes stipulated in the applicable "Customs Import and Export Tariff of the People's Republic of China". When there are adjustments in the Mainland tariff codes for 2017, the list of goods eligible for zero tariff preference under CEPA will be revised accordingly. The Department will issue a separate circular in end December 2016 for this purpose.

Enquiries

6.For enquires on the content of this circular, please contact us through the following channels -

Address	:	Factory Registration and Origin Certification Branch 14/F, Trade and Industry Tower 3 Concorde Road, Kowloon City Hong Kong
Telephone No.	:	3403 6432
Fax No.	:	2787 6048
E-mail Address	:	cepaco@tid.gov.hk

Yours faithfully,

(Calvin Choy)
for Director-General of Trade and Industry

^1. The five GACOs are the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce; the Federation of Hong Kong Industries; the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong; the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce and the Indian Chamber of Commerce, Hong Kong.