Chongqing- Chongqing Fuling pickles, chemicals, and other goods, were exported on April 13 under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), according to the Chongqing Customs District.

"RCEP has cut taxes and fees for our overseas customers and raised pickles' overseas competitiveness," said Sun Xiao, Foreign Trade Manager of Chongqing Fuling Luling Industrial Co., Ltd.

In the first quarter of 2022, Chongqing Customs issued eleven China-Japan RCEP Certificates of Origins (CO) and lowered Japan's import tariff rate from 9% to 8.6%.

China's Fuling mustard pickles, European pickled cucumber, and German red cabbage belongs to "the world's three most famous pickles."

The Fuling pickles have been exported to many countries. The production headquarters is in Fuling District, in the central part of Chongqing Municipality, and was titled the "Hometown of Chinese Fuling pickle."

Sun said that she is more confident to expand the export of Fuling pickles, significantly increasing the market share in Japan and South Korea, as the tariff reduction lowers the cost.

Another beneficiary is the HighChem (Chongqing) Chemicals Co., Ltd., which exports chemicals to Japan, including urea phosphate, dihydrogen phosphate, and potassium nitrate. Those are raw materials for Japanese agricultural fertilizers.

Hu Xiaoqin, Business Director of HighChem, said that the RCEP CO issued the export goods valued at about 22.6 million yuan (about $3.5 million).

Japanese buyers have positive feedback because they have saved about 100,000 yuan in tax. The tariff rate of urea phosphate and dihydrogen phosphate has dropped from 3.1% to 2.8%, and potassium nitrate from 3.9% to 3.5%.

As of April 10, Chongqing Customs has issued 202 RCEP COs since the RCEP came into effect, according to data posted by Chongqing Customs District on April 13.

At present, self-service printing of the CO is available for export goods under RCEP, and enterprises can apply for certificates online. This service is open to Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Singapore, South Korea, and Malaysia.

Moreover, after the customs approve the export goods, RCEP allows exporters to enjoy independent declarations, which means exporters could enjoy customs clearance benefits without applying for the CO. The convenient procedure has dramatically cut the operating costs and improved customs clearance efficiency.