Ningbo Customs officials visit a company that exports to ASEAN countries. [Photo by Li Sibing/Yongpai App]

Four years after the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) came into effect, the world's largest free trade agreement continues to deliver tangible benefits for exporters in Ningbo.

Ningbo Customs had issued 123,800 RCEP certificates of origin since the agreement took effect, with 98 percent now printed through self‑service systems. The total certified export value has surpassed $4.6 billion, reflecting strong business uptake of RCEP tariff preferences.

"The RCEP certificate is real 'paper gold', saving importers a significant amount of money on customs duties," said Wang Ling, Ningbo Dafa Chemical Fiber Co's foreign trade manager, noting that certified exports reached nearly 20 million yuan ($2.86 million) in the first 11 months of 2025.

To help firms fully access these benefits, Ningbo Customs has issued targeted guidance to more than 2,000 eligible enterprises, with companies reporting that the reforms have strengthened customer confidence and helped secure orders.