On April 1, officers of Dongdu Customs under Xiamen Customs in the Xiamen Area of China (Fujian) Pilot Free Trade Zone, assisted a staff member from Xiamen King Long International Trading Co., Ltd. in obtaining a certificate of origin under the  Framework Agreement on Economic Partnership for Shared Development between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of the Congo (CADEPA).

The certificate will serve as a preferential certificate for a batch of King Long-branded passenger vehicle parts exported to the Republic of the Congo.

This marks the first China-Republic of the Congo certificate of origin issued in Fujian Province since the Early Harvest Arrangement for the Agreement on Economic Partnership for Shared Development between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of the Congo took effect on April 1.

With the implementation of the preferential tariff arrangements, Xiamen King Long International Trading Co., Ltd., a leading bus manufacturer, is expected to see a further reduction in production costs.

"This certificate of origin enables us to benefit from tariff reductions and facilitates faster customs clearance, supporting our further expansion in the Congolese market," said Zheng Biao, a manager of the company.

As of April 1, China has implemented zero tariffs on 100 percent of tariff lines for Congolese exports, while the Congolese side will further open its market to Chinese goods and gradually offer tariff reductions on selected Chinese products.

China will apply zero tariffs on energy, mineral resources, tropical timber, as well as cocoa and coffee from the Republic of the Congo, significantly reducing their overall export costs and enhancing their price competitiveness in the Chinese market.

Meanwhile, the Republic of the Congo will extend preferential tariff access to key Chinese exports, including engineering machinery, automotive parts, home appliances, electronics, and consumer goods.