Hohhot customs issued a certificate of origin for export to member countries of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) on Jan 1, the first RCEP certificate of origin issued in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

On Jan 1, the RCEP certificate of origin came into effect for the six ASEAN member countries of Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, as well as the four non-ASEAN member countries of China, Japan, New Zealand, and Australia.

The member parties will implement tax reductions in accordance with the provisions of the agreement, and more than 90 percent of the goods trade in the regions will eventually enjoy zero tariffs.

A certificate of origin is a document issued by a specific agency in an exporting country, certifying that the goods were made or produced in that country or region. Because it can prove the nationality of merchandise, it is also called the "economic passport" of goods in international trade.

Certificates of origin are the basis for importing countries to implement preferential trade measures as well as to mete out non-preferential trade policies such as anti-dumping and countervailing measures, safeguard measures, country-specific quantitative restrictions and tariff quotas.

As China signs and implements free trade agreements with more and more countries and regions, the certificate of origin has become an increasingly important document so that exported goods can clear customs smoothly upon arrival in an importing country.

In order to help enterprises enhance their competitiveness, Hohhot customs has actively organized various RCEP publicity training sessions, and made full preparations for the implementation of free trade agreements.