China Issues More Measures to Increase Trade, Ease Customs Procedures, Amid Coronavirus Outbreak

China recently issued a series of measures to encourage foreign trade companies to resume business as the country continues battling the coronavirus outbreak, according to a Feb. 25 report from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. Among several changes, customs authorities will simplify business registration and filing procedures, and expedite inspections and releases of imported production equipment and raw materials, including the use of “machine-assisted inspection” and “out-of-box audits.” China will also expand imports of agricultural products by increasing “the number of countries and registered companies with access to China’s market” as well as the variety of agricultural goods that can be imported. Other measures simplify and relax procedures surrounding exports, quarantine examinations and approvals, trade documentation deadlines and administrative penalties.