Yunnan's first RCEP certificate of origin issued

The first Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Certificate of Origin in Yunnan province was issued January 1 at Kunming Customs for fresh-cut flowers worth 381,000 yuan.

"We’re honored to obtain Yunnan’s first RCEP certificate of origin. The flowers will be air shipped to Bangkok, entering the Thai market with zero tariffs," said Liang Qiuqun, general manager of the Hengfengwanli flower company based in central Yunnan’s Yuxi city.

“With RCEP taking effect, exporters approved by our customs can independently issue a declaration of origin,” said Yu Min, a staffer at Kunming Customs. The customs will further encourage businesses to get involved in international trade, so that the preferential RCEP policies will benefit more.

At Kunming Customs, the intelligent review of certificates of origin and the "internet plus" model are set to enhance the competitiveness of Yunnan enterprises in the international market and spur foreign trade of the province.

Starting from January 1, 2022, the RCEP has entered into force in the six ASEAN members of Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, as well as China, Japan, New Zealand and Australia.

The free trade partnership currently has 15 member states, some of which are major trading partners of Yunnan province. And Vietnam and Laos are connected to Yunnan by land.

Reporting by Zhuang Beining, Zhao Cailin (Xinhua); Trans-editing by Yang Xuan