Laws of the People's Republic of China

The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation

Circular of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation on Issues concerning Standard Rules Governing the Issuance of Import Certificates to Enterprises with Foreign Investment

WaiJingMaoZiTongJinHanZi [2000] No.498

July 7, 2000

Commissions (departments, bureaus) of foreign trade and economic cooperation in various provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government and municipalities separately listed on the State plan :

In order to standardize procedures for issuing import quota and commodity registration certificates to enterprises with foreign investment, and to prevent such phenomena from happening as fraudulently buying and selling import certificates disturbing the import administration of enterprises with foreign investment, the circular concerning relevant issues on standard rules governing the issuance of import certificates to enterprises with foreign investment is hereby given as follows:

1.

The import certificates referred to in the Circular include "The Import Quota Certificates of Enterprises with Foreign Investment", "The Import Registration Certificate of Specified Commodities of Enterprises with Foreign Investment" and "The Import Quota Certificates for Processing Trade of Enterprises with Foreign Investment".

2.

Item 2, "Import Applicant" in the import certificate must be the same company as in Item 3, " Import Agent", which must be an enterprise with foreign investment within the jurisdiction of the certificate issuing authority.

3.

Item 10, " Modes of Trade" in the import certificate must be confirmed as "import by equity joint ventures", "import by contractual joint ventures" or "import by foreign-capital enterprises".

4.

Imported cars as the investment of , or for own-use by enterprises with foreign investment shall be imported through the nearest designated ports (Tianjin, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Manzhouli) according to relevant provisions. The "Port of Arrival" in the import certificate is confined to the designated ports. In principle, it is not allowed to grant approval to importing cars through a far-away port. The special circumstances must be approved by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation.

Governmental departments in charge of foreign trade and foreign investment and authorized import permit issuing departments must carefully implement all provisions of this Circular.