The FTA Scheme covers transhipment cargo in Hong Kong heading for the Mainland of China under the following agreements:

  1. Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement between the Mainland and Taiwan
  2. The China-Korea Free Trade Agreement
  3. The China-Australia Free Trade Agreement
  4. Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Co-operation between the Association of South East Asian Nations and the People"s Republic of China
  5. The China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement
  6. The China-Singapore Free Trade Agreement
  7. The China-Iceland Free Trade Agreement
  8. The China-Switzerland Free Trade Agreement
  9. The China-Chile Free Trade Agreement
  10. The China-Costa Rica Free Trade Agreement
  11. The China-Peru Free Trade Agreement
  12. The China-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement
  13. The Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement
  14. The China-Georgia Free Trade Agreement
  15. Special Preferential Tariff Treatment to the Least Developed Countries
  16. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
  17. The China-Cambodia Free Trade Agreement
  18. The China-Mauritius Free Trade Agreement
  19. The China-Nicaragua Free Trade Agreement

The FTA Scheme also covers transhipment cargo in Hong Kong heading for other places (currently including Taiwan, Korea(Note) and Australia) under the following agreements:

  1. Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement between the Mainland and Taiwan
  2. The China-Korea Free Trade Agreement
  3. The China-Australia Free Trade Agreement
  4. The Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement
  5. Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement

Note: Korea Customs Service accepts traders to use the "Certificate of Non-manipulation" issued by C&ED to apply for preferential tariff under the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement, the China-Korea Free Trade Agreement or the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.

Traders should pay attention to the requirements concerning transhipment cargo could be regarded as direct consignments under respective free trade agreements and preferential trade agreements, e.g. maximum period of stay in third party, cargo storage and processing arrangements etc. For details of the requirements of related FTA, please visit the website of the China Free Trade Agreement Network by the Mainland Ministry of Commerce –

fta.mofcom.gov.cn/english/index.shtml
english.mofcom.gov.cn

Under different agreements, the maximum period of stay in the third place may vary and a summary is provided here under (the information provided by related trade agreements prevails) -

Free Trade Agreements and Preferential Trade Agreements Maximum transhipment period
1 Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement 60 days
2 The China-Korea Free Trade Agreement 3 months
3 The China-Australia Free Trade Agreement 12 months
4 Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Co-operation between the Association of South East Asian Nations and the People"s Republic of China -
5 The China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement -
6 The China-Singapore Free Trade Agreement 3 months
7 The China-Iceland Free Trade Agreement -
8 The China-Switzerland Free Trade Agreement -
9 The China-Chile Free Trade Agreement 3 months
10 The China-Costa Rica Free Trade Agreement 3 months
11 The China-Peru Free Trade Agreement 3 months
12 The China-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement 6 months
13 The Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement -
14 The China-Georgia Free Trade Agreement 3 months
15 Special Preferential Tariff Treatment to the Least Developed Countries 6 months
16 The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement -
17 The China-Cambodia Free Trade Agreement -
18 The China-Mauritius Free Trade Agreement 6 months
19 The China-Nicaragua Free Trade Agreement 6 months