As the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement enters its fourth year, Xiamen Customs has achieved significant milestones in facilitating regional trade.

Cumulative statistics through May this year show the customs authority has issued 74,008 RCEP Certificates of Origin, covering export goods valued at 30.39 billion yuan ($4.2 billion). These certificates are projected to generate tariff concessions worth approximately 450 million yuan for Chinese exporters in RCEP member markets.

A detailed examination of Xiamen Customs' certification data reveals clear patterns of regional industrial chain collaboration, with Xiamen's competitive sectors including inorganic chemicals, aluminum products, umbrellas, plastic goods, and apparel and footwear emerging as primary beneficiaries of RCEP tariff concessions.

Xiamen Customs has issued RCEP certificates covering all member states, with Japan accounting for the largest share. This demonstrates RCEP's pivotal role as the first free trade agreement between China and Japan. By implementing RCEP tariff reductions, "Made in China" products are now making their way to Japanese households through preferential trade terms.

The advantages of RCEP extend far beyond tariff reductions, with trade facilitation emerging as an equally significant benefit. Approved exporters are allowed to issue RCEP certificates of origin autonomously, which greatly enhances trade efficiency.

Complementing Xiamen customs' innovative model of "smart verification + self-service printing + 24-hour certificate pickup kiosks" for certificates of origin, the approved exporter system has created an additional streamlined channel for businesses to obtain documentation rapidly.