New e-commerce law will expand and improve on the existing cross-border e-commerce policies

Premier Li Keqiang announced last month, that the new e-commerce law will be introduced on January 1^st, 2019 and will expand and improve on the existing cross-border e-commerce (CBEC) policies.

It will ensure that the current policies on CBEC retail imports will continue and no requirements in licensing, registration or record-filing for first-time imports will apply to retail imports through CBEC platforms. Instead, these goods will receive more relaxed regulation as imports for personal use. The policy will be extended from the existing 15 cities to another 22 cities, which have just established comprehensive CBEC pilot zones.

The limitations for single purchase via CBEC will be increased from RMB 2,000 to RMB 5,000

The limitations for single purchase via CBEC will be increased from RMB 2,000 to RMB 5,000 and the yearly purchase amount is increased from RMB 20,000 to RMB 26,000 per year. Within the limitation, customers are exempt from duties and will only be required to pay 70 percent of (consumption tax + VAT).

Furthermore, products including cosmetics, health food and infant formula will not require compliance with Chinese regulations via CBEC. Specifically, this means that no product registration. filing or certification are required to sell through CBEC.

“Boosting cross-border e-commerce will contribute to high-level opening-up. It will promote steady growth in foreign trade, drive consumption and create jobs,” Premier Li said. “We need to take a holistic approach, exercise prudent yet accommodating regulation to fully unleash the growth potential of cross-border e-commerce.”

For more information on e-commerce and retail please contact Antoaneta.becker@cbbc.org