In 2023, Yiwu Customs issued 285,000 certificates of origin, marking a 17.06 percent rise compared to the previous year.

These certificates, covering various types of preferential origin documentation for free trade agreements, are expected to facilitate approximately 1.5 billion yuan ($209.52 million) in tariff concessions for exported goods. Notably, certificates of origin under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement issued by Yiwu Customs amounted to 1.02 billion yuan, benefiting 268 registered companies.

One such beneficiary is Yiwu Yunfeng Import and Export Co Ltd, a local enterprise specializing in exports to Japan. According to Li Wentao, the company's manager, the implementation of RCEP has been instrumental in providing tariff preferences for many of their small commodities exported to Japan.

Since the RCEP's inception, Yiwu Yunfeng has applied for 820 RCEP certificates of origin for exports to Japan. These exports, including textiles valued at around 29.82 million yuan and plastic decorations and household items worth about 81.61 million yuan, have resulted in import tariff exemptions from Japan exceeding 1 million yuan.

Furthermore, the company's export volume has seen a significant uptick, nearly 40 percent higher than the previous year, with inquiries from Japanese clients surging by over 50 percent.

In Yiwu, 92 percent of certificates of origin are now issued through a self-printing system, substantially reducing time costs for enterprises, with certificates printed in as little as 1 minute.