Southeast Asia Information Port News (www.dnyxxg.com) – Haikou Customs disclosed on February 18th that during the first week of the "zero tariff" policy for imported goods consumed by residents of the Hainan Free Trade Port (February 11th-17th), total sales reached 2.768 million yuan, with 16,304 shopping receipts and 14,896 shoppers. The sales structure of "zero tariff" goods was mainly food and beverages, baby products, and daily necessities, indicating strong consumer demand and a stable and orderly market operation.
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, the Wanghao Duty-Free Daily Consumer Goods Shop in Haikou was bustling with customers. Imported durians, cherries, infant formula, and other goods were neatly displayed, and many citizens added "zero tariff" New Year's goods to their shopping lists. "Before, I had to buy imported milk powder online or when leaving the island. Now I can buy 'zero tariff' goods right here at my doorstep, which is more affordable and the quality is reliable," said Ms. Chen, a citizen shopping for baby products.
On February 5th of this year, the Ministry of Finance, the General Administration of Customs, and the State Taxation Administration jointly issued a notice officially implementing the "zero tariff" policy for imported goods for consumption by residents within the Hainan Free Trade Port. On February 11th, the first batch of five duty-free shops selling daily consumer goods opened simultaneously in Haikou, Sanya, and Danzhou, covering 202 items including food and beverages, daily necessities, and baby products. Each person has an annual duty-free allowance of 10,000 yuan, with no limit on the number of purchases. The policy benefits are being rapidly released during the Spring Festival consumption peak season.
"The period around the Spring Festival is a peak time for stockpiling goods, and we initially thought the customs clearance pressure would be significant. Fortunately, the customs had anticipated this," said Liu Chunyin, general manager of Haikou Wanghao Daily Consumer Goods Duty-Free Shop. "During the Spring Festival, customs officers were on duty every day to ensure goods were quickly stored and promptly put on shelves. Goods cleared at 4:00 AM were on the shelves that same morning for consumers to purchase."
In response to the peak import season and concentrated consumer demand during the Spring Festival, Haikou Customs implemented a "check-and-release" policy for "zero-tariff" daily consumer goods. Dedicated personnel were assigned to liaise with businesses, proactively understanding their stockpiling plans and optimizing regulatory processes. Simultaneously, customs officers visited company warehouses and stores to provide on-site guidance on standardized zoning and shelf placement, ensuring traceability of goods from import and warehousing to sales.
Haikou Customs stated that it will continue to optimize its regulatory service model, promoting convenient regulatory measures while ensuring controllable risks, to further amplify the policy effects of "zero-tariff" daily consumer goods. (End)
