WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/LIC/N/3/CHN/6 
8 October 2007 
 
 (07-4267) 
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  
 
PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA 
 
 
 The following communication, dated 5 October 2007, 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 three 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 al l the products subject to import restriction, 
currently only including 10 8-digit tariff head ings of ozone layer depleting substances:  29031910, 
29033090, 29034100, 29034200, 29034300, 29034400, 29034510, 29034600, 29034910, 3824710.  
Automatic import licensing is applicable to pr oducts free from import restriction, but the 
importation of which needs monitoring, incl uding 616 8-digit tariff headings:  02071100, 02071200, 
02071311, 02071319, 02071321, 02071329, 02071411, 02071419, 02071421, 02071422, 02071429, 05040021, 15071000, 15079000, 15111000, 15119010, 15119090, 15141100, 15141900, 15149110, 15149190, 15149900, 24011010, 24011090, 24012010, 24012090, 24013000, 24021000, 24022000, 24029000, 24031000, 24039100, 24039900, 48131000, 48132000, 48139000, 56012210, 26030000, 
27011100, 27011210, 27011290, 27011900, 39011000, 39012000, 39019020, 39021000, 39031100, 
39031900, 39041000, 39042100, 39042200, 40011000, 40012100, 40012200, 40012900, 47071000, 47072000, 47073000, 47079000, 55020010, 72041000, 72042100, 72042900, 72043000, 72044100, 72044900, 72045000, 74020000, 74031100, 74031200, 74031300, 74031900, 74032100, 74032200, 74032900, 74040000,7 4061010, 74061020, 74061090, 74062010, 74062020, 74062090, 74071000, 
74072100, 74072900, 74081100, 74081900, 74082100, 74082200, 74082900, 74091100, 74091900, 
74092100, 74092900, 74093100, 74093900, 74094000, 74099000, 74101100, 74101210, 74101290, 74102100, 74102210, 74102290, 74111011, 74111019, 74111090, 74112110, 74112190, 74112200, 74112900, 76020000, 84021190, 84021200, 84021900, 84022000, 84031010, 84031090, 84041010, 84042000, 84068110, 84068120, 84068130, 84068200, 84073300, 84073410, 84073420, 84079090, 84081000, 84082010, 84082090, 84089010, 84089092, 84089093, 84099191, 84099999, 84109010, 
84109090, 84118200, 84122910, 84122990, 84123900, 84137090, 84143090, 84171000, 84178030, G/LIC/N/3/CHN/6 
Page 2  
 
  84178090, 84194090, 84195000, 84196090, 84212910, 84223019, 84223030, 84261929, 84261930, 
84261942, 84262000, 84263000, 84264110, 84264190, 84264910, 84271010, 84271090, 84281010, 84284000, 84291110, 84291190, 84292090, 84294011, 84294019, 84294090, 84295211, 84295212, 84295219, 84295290, 84295900, 84303100, 84314100, 84314990, 84391000, 84392000, 84393000, 84414000, 84418090, 84431100, 84431310, 84431390, 84431921, 84431922, 84431922, 84431929, 
84431980, 84439110, 84439190, 84439910, 84451111, 84451112, 84451113, 84451119, 84451120, 
84451210, 84451220, 84452031, 84452041, 84454010, 84459010, 84459020, 84459090, 84463020, 84463030, 84463040, 84463050, 84463090, 84471100, 84471200, 84472010, 84472020, 84481100, 84514000, 84515000, 84552120, 84552130, 84552190, 84552210, 84561000, 84563010, 84569910, 84569990, 84571010, 84571020, 84571030, 84571090, 84572000, 84573000, 84581100, 84589100, 
84592100, 84593100, 84594010, 84595100, 84596110, 84596190, 84601100, 84602110, 84602120, 
84602190, 84602910, 84602920, 84614010, 84621010, 84621090, 84622190, 84622990, 84623110, 84623120, 84623190, 84624119, 84629110, 84629910, 84714110, 84714120, 84714190, 84714910, 84714920, 84714991, 84715020, 84717030, 84719000, 84771010, 84771010, 84781000, 84789000, 84791021, 84791029, 84798200, 84798961, 84798990, 84807100, 84807100, 84861010, 84861020, 
84861030, 84861040, 84861090, 84862010, 84862021, 84862022, 84862029, 84862031, 84862039, 
84862041, 84862049, 84862050, 84862090, 84863010, 84863021, 84863022, 84863029, 84863031, 84863039, 84863041, 84863049, 84863090, 84864010, 84864021, 84864022, 84864029, 84864031, 84864039, 85016100, 85016200, 85016300, 85016410, 85016420, 85016430, 85021200, 85021310, 85021320, 85042100, 85042200, 85042311, 85042312, 85042313, 85042329, 85043110, 85043190, 85043290, 85043300, 85043400, 85152190, 85153190, 85153900, 85171210, 85171290, 85176110, 
85176190, 85176212, 85176221, 85176222, 85176229, 85176232, 85176234, 85176239, 85176291, 
85176299, 85176910, 85177020, 85177030, 85177090, 85219090, 85255000, 85256010, 85256090, 85258013, 85261010, 85261090, 85269190, 85269200, 85285110, 85287110, 85287221, 85287222, 85287229, 85287231, 85287232, 85287239, 85287291, 85287292, 85287299, 85291010, 85291090, 85291090, 85299010, 85299050, 85299090, 85301000, 85308000, 85311090, 85352900, 85371011, 
85371019, 85371090, 85372010, 85401100, 85404000, 85437092, 85437099, 85437099, 86011020, 
86011090, 86031000, 86040019, 87012000, 87021020, 87021091, 87021092, 87021093, 87029010, 87029020, 87029030, 87032130, 87032190, 87032230, 87032240, 87032250, 87032290, 87032314, 87032315, 87032316, 87032319, 87032334, 87032335, 87032336, 87032339, 87032430, 87032440, 87032450, 87032490, 87033130, 87033140, 87033150, 87033190, 87033230, 87033240, 87033250, 87033290, 87033330, 87033340, 87033350, 87033390, 87039000, 87041030, 87041090, 87042100, 
87042230, 87042240, 87042300, 87043100, 87043230, 87043240, 87049000, 87051021, 87051022, 
87051023, 87051091, 87051092, 87051093, 87052000, 87053010, 87053090, 87054000, 87059010, 87059020, 87059030, 87059040, 87059051, 87059059, 87059060, 87059070, 87059080, 87059090, 87060021, 87060022, 87060030, 87060040, 87060090, 87071000, 87079010, 87079090, 87083099, 87084091, 87084099, 87085072, 87085074, 87085075, 87085076, 87085079, 87085089, 87089991, 
88021100, 88021210, 88022000, 88023000, 88024010, 88024020, 88052900, 89011010, 89012011, 
89012021, 89012031, 89012090, 89019021, 89019031, 89019041, 89019050, 89019080, 89019090, 89020010, 89040000, 89051000, 89052000, 89059010, 89059090, 90148000, 90181100, 90181291, 90181300, 90221200, 90221300, 90221400, 90221910, 90229090, 90304090, 90314990, 95041000, 95043010, 95043090, 84431100, 84431910, 84431990, 89011010, 89019090, 89020010, 89052000, 89059010, 89059090, 27090000, 27101110, 27101120, 27101911, 27101912, 27101921, 27101922, 
27101929, 28182000, 28342110, 31022100, 31022900, 31024000, 31025000, 31026000, 31028000, 
31029010, 31029090, 31031000, 31031090, 31039000, 31042010, 31042090, 31043000, 31049010, 31049090, 31051000, 31054000, 31055100, 31055900, 31056000, 31059000, 72181000, 72189100, 72189900, 72191100, 72191200, 72191319, 72191321, 72191329, 72191411, 72191419, 72191421, 72191429, 72192100, 72192200, 72192300, 72192410, 72192420, 72192430, 72193100, 72193200, 
72193300, 72193400, 72193500, 72199000, 72201100, 72201200, 72202010, 72202090, 72209000, 
72210000, 72221100, 72221900, 72222000, 72223000, 72224000, 72230000, 72251100, 72261100, 73041110, 73041120, 73041130, 73041190, 73042210, 73042290, 73042400, 73044110, 73044190, 73044910, 73044990, 73061100, 73062100, 73064000, 26011110, 26011120, 26011190, 26011200, 26012000, 26060000.  G/LIC/N/3/CHN/6 
 Page 3 
 
 
   
Import tariff rate quota administra tion is applicable 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 three licensing system applies to goods coming from all countries. 
4. China eliminated all the quantitative restric tion measures on imports on 1 January 2005.  
Import license administration is an administ rative measure over products, including ozone 
depleting materials, on which import rest rictions must be applied according to the Montreal Protocol on 
Substances that Deplete Ozone Layer.  
Automatic import licensing is an  administrative measure over cert ain products which are free of 
import restrictions but monitori ng on importation and statistics collection of which are deemed 
necessary.  It is impl emented in a way fully consistent with the Agreement on Import Licensing 
Procedures , and there is no restriction in te rms of import quantity or value.  
 Import tariff rate quota admi nistration is confirmed by other WTO members within the 
framework of WTO Agreements and the negotiations on China’s accession.  It is an administrative 
measure over certain produ cts subject to import restrictions.  The primary categories of products under 
administration of import tariff rate quota are in the agriculture sector.  
 
5. There have been no major changes to the legal frame work of import licensing regime since the last 
submission of reply to questionnaire.  Only the catal ogues of products subject to licensing procedures were 
revised.   
 
Procedures  
 
6. No product is subject to import quota license administration any more.  
In 2007, products under import tari ff rate quota administration includ e grain, cotton, sugar, wool, 
wool tops and chemical fertilizer, the TRQ of which is applied globally.  
 
I. NDRC promulgate d on 18 September 2006 the Quantities, Application Conditions and 
Allocation Methods of Tariff Rate Quota fo r Importation of Grain and Cotton of 2007  in its 
Announcement No. 64 of 2006. MOFCOM promulgated on 29 September 2006 the 
Application and Allocation Met hods of Tariff Rate Quota for Importation of Sugar of 2007  in 
its Announcement No.76 of 2006,  and Implementing Rules on the Administration of Tariff 
Rate Quota for Importation of Wool and Wool Tops of 2007  in its Announcement No. 77 of 
2006  MOFCOM also promulgated on 10 October 2006  the Quantities, Allocation Principles 
and Application Procedures of Tariff Rate Quota for Importation of Fertilizers of 2007 in its 
Announcement No. 79 of 2006.  
 
II. There have been no changes since the submission.  
 III. There have been no changes since the submission.  IV. There have been no changes since the submission. G/LIC/N/3/CHN/6 
Page 4  
 
   
V. There have been no changes since the submission.  VI. There have been no changes since the submission.  
VII. There have been no changes since the submission. 
 VIII. There have been no changes since the submission.  IX. There have been no changes since the submission. 
 
X. Not applicable.   XI. There have been no changes since the submission.  
7. There are no quantitative restrictions for products under automatic import licensing and 
import license administration.  
(a) For products under automatic import licensing, so long as the content and format of the 
application are correct, the issuing entity should,  to the extent practicable, grant the license 
immediately, or under special circumstances, no more than 10 working days.   
 For products of substances that  deplete ozone layer which is th e only batch of products subject 
to import license administration,  the time for granting permit is based on the period necessary 
for making a reasonable judgement on the justific ation of the import, but in any case no more 
than 10 working days.  
  (b) There have been no changes since the submission. 
(c) There have been no changes since the submission. 
(d) There have been no changes since the submission. 
 8. There have been no changes since the submission. 
 
Eligibility of Importers to Apply for Licence
 
 
9. There have been no changes since the submission. 
Documentation and Other Requiremen ts for Application for Licence   
 
10. For information required to be provided in the application for import license, there have been 
no changes since the submission. 
 For information required to be provided in th e application for automatic import license, there 
have been no changes since the submission.    For information required to be provided in the application for ta riff rate quota for importation of 
agricultural products, please refer to the Quantities, Application Cond itions and Allocation Methods of 
Tariff Rate Quota for Importati on of Grain and Cotton of 2007 published on 18 September 2006 in 
NDRC’s Announcement No. 64 of 2006, the Application and Allocation Me thods of Tariff Rate Quota 
for Importation of Sugar of 2007 was published on 29 September 2006 in MOFCOM’s Announcement 
No. 76 of 2006 and the Implementing Rules on the Administration of Tariff Rate Quota for  G/LIC/N/3/CHN/6 
 Page 5 
 
 
  Importation of Wool and Wool Tops of 2007 published on 29 September 2006 in MOFCOM’s 
Announcement No. 77 of 2006. 
 
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 2007 published on 10 October  2006 in 
MOFCOM’s Announcement No. 79of 2006.  
 11. There have been no changes since the submission.  
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. There have been no changes since the submission. 
15. There have been no changes since the submission. 
16. All the 3 categories of licenses listed above are not transferable.  
17. There are no other conditions attach ed to the issue of a license. 
Other Procedural Requirements  
 
18. There have been no changes since the submission.  
19. There have been no changes since the submission. 
 
__________