WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/LIC/N/3/CHN/8 
20 October 2009 
 (09-5203) 
Committee on Import Licensing Original:   English 
  
 
RESPONSES TO QUESTIONNAIRE ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES  
 
Notification pursuant to Article 7.3 of the 
 
Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures  
 
CHINA 
 
 
 The following communication, dated 18 October 2009, is being circulated at the request of the delegation of the People’s Republic of China. 
 
_______________ 
 Outline of System
 
 
1. Import licensing in China can be divided into the following categories: 
 
(a) import license administration. (b) automatic import licensing. (c) import tariff rate quota administration. 
 
Purposes and coverage of licensing
 
 
2. Import license administration is applicable to all the products subject to import restriction, 
currently including 95 8-digit tariff headings  of ozone layer depleting substances and 
second-hand/used mechanical and electrical products:   
29031910  84194090  84261942  84279000 85016100 85152110 84223010  84463040
29033990  84196090  84262000  84281010 85016200 85152190 84342000  84472020
29034100  84198990  84264110  84281090 85016300 85152900 84381000  84514000
29034200  84178030  84264190  84284000 85016410 85153110 84385000  84531000
29034300  84223021  84264910  84286021 85016420 85153190 84335100  89011010
29034400  84223029  84264990  84286029 85016430 85153900 84335990  89031000
29034510  84541000  84269100  84295211 85021100 85158000 84341000  89039200
29034600  84542090  84269900  84295212 85021200 85351000 84431200  89039900
29034910  84543090  84271010  84295219 85021310 85352100 84431400  89011090
38247100  84253190  84271020  84391000 85021320 85353000 84431500  89019090
84194010  84261930  84272010  84392000 85022000 84198100 84431600  84439990
84194020  84261941  84272090  84393000 85023900 84212200 84431980   
  
 Automatic import licensing is applicable to products free from import restriction, but the 
importation of which needs monitoring, including 560 8-digit tariff headings:   G/LIC/N/3/CHN/8 
Page 2  
 
  02071100 87029030 87085072 74062010 84291110 84593100 87043240 31029010 
02071200 87032130 87085074 74062020 84291190 84594010 87049000 31029090 
02071311 87032140 87085075 74062090 84292090 84595100 87051021 31031010 
02071319 87032150 87085076 74071000 84294011 84596110 87051022 31031090 
02071321 87032190 87085079 74072100 84294019 84596190 87051023 31039000 
02071329 87032230 87085089 74072900 84294090 84601100 87051091 31042010 
02071411 87032240 88023000 74081100 84295211 84602110 87051092 31042090 
02071419 87032250 88024010 74081900 84295212 84602120 87051093 31043000 
02071421 87032290 88024020 74082100 84295219 84602190 87052000 31049010 
02071422 87032341 89011010 74082200 84295290 84602910 87053010 31049090 
02071429 87032342 89012011 74082900 84295900 84602920 87053090 31051000 
05040021 87032343 89012021 74091110 84303100 84614010 87054000 31054000 
15071000 87032349 89012031 74091190 84791021 84621010 87059010 31055100 
15079000 87032351 89012090 74091900 84791029 84621090 87059020 31055900 
15111000 87032352 89019021 74092100 84391000 84622190 87059030 31056000 
15119010 87032353 89019031 74092900 84392000 84622990 87059040 31059000 
15119020 87032359 89019041 74093100 84393000 84623110 87059051 72181000 
15119090 87032361 89019080 74093900 84414000 84623120 87059059 72189100 
15141100 87032362 89019090 74094000 84418090 84623190 87059060 72189900 
15141900 87032363 89020010 74099000 84431100 84624119 87059070 72191100 
15149110 87032369 89052000 74101100 84431311 84629110 87059080 72191200 
15149190 87032411 89059010 74101210 84431312 84629910 87059090 72191312 
15149900 87032412 89059090 74101290 84431313 85016100 87060040 72191319 
24011010 87032413 95041000 74102110 84431319 85016200 87089991 72191322 
24011090 87032419 95043010 74102190 84431390 85016300 88021100 72191329 
24012010 87032421 95043090 74102210 84431921 85016410 88021210 72191412 
24012090 87032422 95049010 74102290 84431929 85016420 88022000 72191419 
24013000 87032423 84021190 74111011 84431980 85016430 88052900 72191422 
24021000 87032429 84021200 74111019 84439110 85021200 89019050 72191429 
24022000 87033111 84021900 74111020 84439190 85021310 89040000 72192100 
24029000 87033119 84022000 74111090 84439910 85021320 89051000 72192200 
24031000 87033121 84031010 74112110 84451111 85042100 90181100 72192300 
24039100 87033122 84031090 74112190 84451112 85042200 90181210 72192410 
24039900 87033123 84041010 74112200 84451113 85042311 90181291 72192420 
48131000 87033129 84042000 74112900 84451119 85042312 90181300 72192430 
48132000 87033211 84068110 84431922 84451120 85042313 90221200 72193100 
48139000 87033212 84068120 84771010 84451210 85042329 90221300 72193200 
56012210 87033213 84068130 84798999 84451220 85043110 90221400 72193300 
55020010 87033219 84068200 84807100 84452031 85043190 90229010 72193400 
26030000 87033221 84073420 85219090 84452041 85043290 90229090 72193500 
27011100 87033222 84081000 90314990 84454010 85043300 84431100 72199000 
27011210 87033223 84089010 84571010 84459010 85043400 84431311 72201100 
27011290 87033229 84089092 84571020 84459020 85152190 84431312 72201200 
27011900 87033311 84089093 84571030 84459090 85153190 84431313 72202020 
47071000 87033312 84099191 84571090 84463020 85153900 84431319 72202030 
47072000 87033313 84099999 84781000 84463030 85176221 84431390 72202040 
47073000 87033319 84109010 84789000 84463040 85176222 26011110 72209000 
47079000 87033321 84109090 85171210 84463050 85176229 26011120 72210000 
72041000 87033322 84118200 85171290 84463090 85176232 26011190 72221100 
72042100 87033323 84122910 85176110 84542010 85176234 26011200 72221900  G/LIC/N/3/CHN/8 
 Page 3 
 
 
  72042900 87033329 84122990 85176190 84543010 85176239 26012000 72222000 
72043000 87033361 84123900 85176212 84543022 85176299 26060000 72223000 
72044100 87033362 84137099 85255000 84543029 85176910 27090000 72224000 
72044900 87033363 84171000 85256010 84551020 85177020 27101110 72230000 
72045000 87033369 84178030 85287110 84551030 85256090 27101120 72251100 
76020000 87039000 84178090 85291090 84551090 85261010 27101911 72261100 
74020000 87042100 84194090 85299010 84552110 85261090 27101912 73041110 
74031111 87042230 84195000 85299090 84552120 85269190 27101921 73041120 
74031119 87042240 84196090 85437099 84552130 85269200 27101922 73041130 
74031190 87042300 84198990 84073300 84552190 85301000 27101929 73041190 
74031200 87060021 84212910 84073410 84552210 85308000 27111100 73042210 
74031300 87060022 84223010 84073420 84561000 86011020 27112100 73042290 
74031900 87060030 84223030 84082010 84563010 86011090 28182000 73042400 
74032100 87060090 84261929 84082090 84569010 86031000 28342110 73044110 
74032200 87071000 84261930 87012000 84569090 86040019 31022100 73044190 
74032900 87079010 84261942 87021091 84572000 87021020 31022900 73044910 
74040000 87079090 84262000 87021092 84573000 87041030 31024000 73044990 
74061010 87083099 84263000 87021093 84581100 87041090 31025000 73061100 
74061020 87084091 84264110 87029010 84589100 87043100 31026000 73062100 
74061090 87084099 84264910 87029020 84592100 87043230 31028000 73064000 
 
 Import tariff rate quota administration is appli cable to 45 8-digit tariff headings of grain, 
cotton, sugar, wool, wool top and chemical fertilizer:   
10011000 10019010 10019090 11010000 11031100 11032010 10051000 10059000 
11022000 11031300 11042300 10061019 10061099 10062090 10063090 10064090 
11023090 11031929 10061011 10061091 10062010 10063010 10064010 11023010 
11031921 17011100 17011200 17019100 17019910 17019920 17019990 51011100 
51011900 51012100 51012900 51013000 51031010 52010000 52030000 31053000 
31021000 31052000 51052000 51052100 51052900    
 
 
3. The licensing system currently applies to goods coming from all countries. 
 4. China does not maintain import quantitative rest rictions in consistent with WTO rules or 
China’s accession commitment.     Import license administration is an administ rative measure over products, including ozone 
depleting materials and second-hand/used mechanical  and electrical products. Import restriction on 
ozone depleting materials is applied according to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete 
Ozone Layer . Import restriction on second-hand/used mechan ical and electrical products aims at 
protecting social welfare, environment and consumers’ health and safety.  
 
 Import tariff rate quota administration is confirmed by WTO members within the framework 
of WTO Agreements and the negotiations on China’s accession. It is an administrative measure over 
certain products subject to import restrictions.    Automatic import licensing is an administrativ e measure over certain products which are free 
from import restrictions but monitoring on importatio n and statistics collection of which are deemed G/LIC/N/3/CHN/8 
Page 4  
 
  necessary. It is implemented in a way fully consistent with the Agreement on Import Licensing 
Procedures , and there is no restriction in terms of import quantity or value.  
 5. On 7 April 2008, the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), the General Administration of Customs (GAC) and the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine 
(AQSIQ) published MOFCOM, GAC and AQSIQ joint decree No. 5 and No. 7 of 2008, the Measures 
on Administration of Important Second-hand(Used) Mechanical and Electrical Products and the 
Measures on Administration of Mechanical and Electrical Products , which came into force on 
1 May 2008. On the same day, MOFCOM a nd CAC published MOFCOM and GAC joint decree 
No. 6 of 2008, the Implementing Rules on Automatic Import Licensing on Mechanical and Electrical 
Products , which came into effect on 1 May 2008.  
  There have been no major changes to the le gal framework of import licensing regime since 
the last submission of reply to questionnaire. On ly the catalogues of products subject to licensing 
procedures were revised.   
 
Procedures
 
 
6. China does not maintain import quantitative rest rictions in consistent with WTO rules or 
China’s accession commitment.    
 In 2007, products under import tariff rate quota administration include grain, cotton, sugar, 
wool, wool tops and chemical fertilizer, the TRQ of which are applied globally.  
 
I. NDRC promulgate d on 26 September 2008 the Quantities, Application Conditions and 
Allocation Methods of Tariff Rate Quota for Importation of Grain and Cotton of 2009  in its 
Announcement No. 61 of 2008. MOFCOM promulgated on 27 September 2008 the 
Application and Allocation Methods of Tariff Rate Quota for Importation of Sugar of 2009  in 
its Announcement No.74 of 2008,  and Implementing Rules on the Administration of Tariff 
Rate Quota for Importation of Wool and Wool Tops of 2009 in its Announcement No. 75 of 
2008.  MOFCOM also promulgated on 10 October 2008  the Quantities, Allocation Principles 
and Application Procedures of Tariff Rate Quota for Importation of Fertilizers of 2009 in its 
Announcement No. 81 of 2008.  
 
II. The tariff rate quota for the next year is issued  to end users before 1 January of the year, and 
the tariff rate quota is valid throughout the whole calendar year. 
 
 For TRQ holder for grain, cotton and sugar, a TRQ warrant, which should be provided to the 
Customs during Customs clearance, is valid throughout the whole calendar year. TRQ holder is entitled to demand extension for warrant from the competent authority if the original warrant expired in case of importation unfinishe d or business contract not being performed, 
but validity period of the warrant should not ex ceed the end of February of the next calendar 
year. 
 
 For TRQ holder for wool and wool top, the TR Q warrant is valid for six months within the 
calendar year. However, TRQ holder is entitle d to demand extension for warrant from the 
competent authority if the original warrant  expired in case of importation unfinished or 
business contract not being performed. The valid ity period of warrant should not exceed the 
end of February of the next calendar year. 
  For TRQ holder for chemical fertilizer, the TR Q warrant is valid for six months. However, 
TRQ holder is entitled to demand extension for warrant from the competent authority if the  G/LIC/N/3/CHN/8 
 Page 5 
 
 
  original warrant expired in case of importation unfinished. The extension should not exceed 
the validity period of the Tariff Rate Quota. 
 III. For products under import tariff rate quota administration, TRQ holders should annually 
return, for reallocation, the unfilled tariff rate quota of the calendar year within the scheduled 
time limit. To ensure that th e allocated tariff rate quota is used for importation, for TRQ 
holders who do not fully use the tariff rate quot a for the year and do not return the unfilled 
tariff rate quota within the scheduled time lim it, their next year quantity of tariff rate quota 
will be reduced accordingly. 
 
IV. For products under import tariff rate quota administration, the period for submission of 
application is 15 days. (Excluding those to whic h first come, first served is applicable.) 
 V. For products under import tariff rate quota administration, the time for processing the 
application is two months after the closi ng date of the period for the submission of 
application. 
 VI. For products under import tariff rate quota ad ministration, at least one day remains between 
the granting of the tariff rate quota and the date  of the opening of the period of importation. 
 VII. For products under import tariff rate quota administration, according to the variety of 
products, the applicant should submit the applica tion to entities with authorization of either 
MOFCOM (sugar, wool, wool top and chemical  fertilizer) or NDRC (grain and cotton) to 
have the application verified. The entities w ill then transmit the application to either 
MOFCOM or NDRC. MOFCOM or NDRC will, through the authorized entities, allocate to applicants import tariff rate quota. Import TR Q holders do not have to acquire an import 
license. 
 VIII. The allocation of import tariff rate quota fo r agricultural products is  based on the number of 
applicants, historical import performance, pr oduction capacity and other relevant commercial 
standards, or on the principle of “first come, first served” (wool and wool top). The reallocation is based on the principle of “first come, first served”, according to published 
application conditions. 
  The allocation of import tariff rate quota for chemical fertilizers is based on the number of 
applicants, historical import performance, capacity of production and operation, quota 
utilization record and other factors such as the number of new applicants. 
 
IX. For products under import TRQ administration,  no matter whether the exporting country 
issues export permits or not, import licensing procedures are required and the import licensing 
is not automatic. 
 X. Not applicable. 
 
XI. Licences are not issued on condition that goods should be exported and not sold in the 
domestic market 
 7.(a) There are no quantitative restrictions fo r products under automatic import licensing and 
import license administration. For products under automatic import licensing, so long as the 
content and format of the application are corre ct, the issuing entity should, to the extent 
practicable, grant the license immediately, or under special circumstances, no more than 
10 days.   G/LIC/N/3/CHN/8 
Page 6  
 
   For products subject import license administrati on, the time for granting permit is based on 
the period necessary for making a reasonable judgement on the justification of the import. For ozone depleting materials, it is no more than 10 days, while for second-hand and used 
mechanical and electrical products, time for grating the permit usually does not exceed 
20 days, and is no more than 35 days in extreme conditions.  
 
(b) For products under automatic import licensing administration, the license can be granted 
immediately upon request. 
   (c) Automatic import license is valid within th e calendar year, but no more than six months. 
However, if the holder needs to have th e license validity period extended in case of 
importation unfinished or business contract not be ing performed, he has to apply to the former 
license issuing body again.  
  Import license is valid throughout the whole cale ndar year, and no other limitation attached.    
 
(d) The consideration of license application is e ffected by one single administrative organ. For 
products under automatic import licensing and import license administration, the applicant only has to submit the application to the entities authorized by MOFCOM. 
 8. For products under automatic import licensing, once the State decides to implement 
temporary measures to prohibit importation of certain goods or to restrict the quantity of importation 
of certain goods, the granting of automatic import license will be ceased automa tically on the day of 
entry into force of these temporary measures. The temporary measures will be published thirty days 
before their entry into force.  
 For products under import license administration, if the justification for importation is 
believed to be unconvincing, the a pplication may be refused. The app licant will be given the reason 
for the refusal, and will also be informed of havi ng the right to, pursuant to laws and regulations , 
apply to administrative reconsideration or  initiate administrative lawsuit. 
 
Eligibility of importers to apply for licence
 
 
9. Since 1 July 2004, an automatic registration system has been implemented for any individual or enterprise who intends to conduct import and export. For detailed information, please refer to  
Measures for Registration of Foreign Trade Operators, published on 25 June 2004 in MOFCOM 
Decree No. 14 of 2004.  
 
 For products under import license administration,  automatic import licensing and import tariff 
rate quota administration, except for those under state trading administration the importation of which can only be conducted by state trading enterprises, any individual or enterprise can apply for import 
license so long as they meet the criteria set for diffe rent goods as published. The lists of state trading 
enterprises are also published. 
 
Documentation and other requirements for application for licence 
 
 
10. For information required to be provided in th e application for import license, there have been 
no changes to ozone depleting materials. For info rmation required for impor t license of second-hand 
and used mechanical and electrical products, documents  include: a) statement of purpose of use of the 
products after importation, b) sta ndardized application form for se cond-hand and used mechanical and 
electrical products, c) copy of business license of the applicant, d) warrant for the manufacturing date of the imported second-hand and used mechanical and electrical products, e) statement by the  G/LIC/N/3/CHN/8 
 Page 7 
 
 
  applicant on the status quo of the imported second- hand and used mechanical and electrical products, 
f) other documents required by relevant laws and regulations, if applicable.  
     For information required to be provided in  application for automatic import license, please 
refer to the Measures on Administration of Automatic Import Licensing for Goods  published on 
10 November 2004 in  MOFCOM and GCA Joint Decree No. 26 of 2004.  
     For information required to be provided in  the application for tari ff rate quota for importation 
of agricultural products , please refer to the Quantities, Application Cond itions and Allocation Methods 
of Tariff Rate Quota for Importa tion of Grain and Cotton of 2009 published on 26 September 2008 in 
NDRC’s Announcement No. 61 of 2008, the Application and Allocation Me thods of Tariff Rate Quota 
for Importation of Sugar of 2009 was published on 27 September 2008 in MOFCOM’s Announcement 
No. 74 of 2008 and the Implementing Rules on the Administration of Tariff Rate Quota for 
Importation of Wool and Wool Tops of 2009 published on 27 September 2008 in MOFCOM’s 
Announcement No. 75 of 2008. 
 
For information required to be provided in the application for tariff rate quota for importation 
of fertilizers, please refer to the  Quantities, Allocation Principles and Application Procedures of 
Tariff Rate Quota for Importation of Fertilizers of 2009 published on 10 October 2008 in 
MOFCOM’s Announcement No. 81 of 2008.  
 
11. There have been no changes since last year.  
 12. There are no licensing fees or administrative charges.  13. There is no deposit or advance payment require ment associated with the issue of licenses. 
 
Conditions of Licensing
 
 
14. Import license is valid throughout the whole calendar year, and no other limitation attached. 
The validity period for license can be extended once, but no more than 3 months.  
 The validity period for automatic import license is  six months, and the license is valid only in 
the calendar year when it is issued. However, if th e holder needs to have validity period of the license 
extended in case of importation unfinished or busines s contract not being performed, he has to apply 
to the former license issuing body again.  
 The validity period for import tariff rate quota is one year.  
  For TRQ holder for grain, cotton and sugar, a TRQ warrant, which should be provided to the 
Customs during Customs clearance, is valid throughout  the whole calendar year . TRQ holder is entitled 
to demand extension for warrant from the competent aut hority if the original warrant expired in case of 
importation unfinished or busines s contract not being performed, but  validity period of the warrant 
should not exceed the end of Febr uary of the next calendar year. 
  For TRQ holder for wool and wool top, the TR Q warrant is valid for six months within the 
calendar year. However, TRQ holder is entitled to demand extension for warrant from the competent 
authority if the original warrant expired in case of importation unfinished or bu siness contract not being 
performed. The validity period of warrant should not ex ceed the end of February of the next calendar 
year.   For TRQ holder for chemical fertilizer, the TRQ warrant is valid for six months. However, TRQ 
holder is entitled to demand extension for warrant fr om the competent authority if the original warrant G/LIC/N/3/CHN/8 
Page 8  
 
  expired in case of importation unfin ished. The extension should not exceed the validity period of the 
Tariff Rate Quota.  15. For products under import tariff rate quota administration, TRQ holders should annually 
return, for reallocation, the unfilled tariff rate quota of the calendar year within the scheduled time 
limit. To ensure that the allocated tariff rate quot a are used for importation, for TRQ holders who do 
not fully use tariff rate quota for the year and do not return the unfilled tariff rate quota within the 
scheduled time limit, their next year quantity of tariff rate quota will be reduced accordingly.     For products under import license administ ration and automatic import licensing, 
non-utilization or a portion of license will not be punished 
 16. All licenses listed above are not transferable.  17. There are no other conditions att ached to the issue of a licence. 
 Other Procedural Requirements
 
 
18. There have been no changes since last year.   19. There have been no changes since last year. 
 
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