From November 1, the Trade Department of the Ministry of Commerce will issue certificates of origin for products originating in Myanmar and destined for export to China, so as to authorize traders to enjoy tariff reduction and exemption. This is another progress in trade between China and Myanmar after the RCEP agreement of Myanmar came into force in May. After China granted preferential tariff rates to the goods subject to RCEP origin standard in Myanmar, 5969 products were exempted from tariff, including 234 forest products.

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) was initiated by the ten ASEAN countries, and China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and India were invited to join in. Through the reduction of tariff and non-tariff barriers, a free trade agreement was established to establish a unified market of 16 countries. It came into force in January 2022. More than 90% of the approved goods trade among member countries will eventually achieve zero tariff, and the degree of intra regional trade facilitation will also be further improved.

Since Myanmar banned the export of logs in 2014, the timber trade at the border between China and Myanmar has changed. Affected by the epidemic, the total import and export trade between Myanmar and China has been decreasing in the past two years. The issuance of certificates of origin for Myanmar products represents China’s positive attitude towards promoting China Myanmar trade. According to the tariff data of the China Free Trade Zone Service Network, the trade tariff of China Myanmar wood products is reduced to 0-5%.