China's Revised Customs Penalty System Offers Relief for Minor Offenses

China’s recently revised customs penalties could provide greater transparency to traders and set out a new penalty system for minor offenses, KPMG said Aug. 10. The revision, which took effect July 15 (see 2106250060), says that penalty relief may be available under certain conditions, including for minor or first-time “non-compliance behaviors,” if the violations can be rectified in a timely manner and if they didn’t result in “significant harm,” KPMG said. China customs may also provide relief if the trader can prove the violation wasn’t intentional.