Policy Guide to the GACC Announcement on Optimizing the Implementation of Relevant Matters of the TIR Convention

I. Background and Objectives

To advance the healthy, sustainable development of road transport under the Customs Convention on the International Transport of Goods under Cover of TIR Carnets (TIR Convention), Customs authorities are modernizing its approach in line with logistics trends and business needs. This effort is closely integrated with Current customs management requirements and involves refining TIR procedures by expanding their scope and optimizing operational modes. The goal is to further facilitate cross-border road transport and improve Customs clearance efficiency for international road freight.

II. Key Improvements

1. Provisions have been updated and refined in response to the latest policies and regulations. The key updates include: clarifying that carriers and their vehicles from countries that have a multilateral road transport agreement with China are permitted to undertake TIR transport under the Convention, provided all agreement conditions are met; and, as stipulated by the TIR Convention, clarifying the circumstances under which a Certification of Containers and Road Vehicles for International Transport under Customs Seal  is required, and adjusting its validity period.

2. The scope of TIR transport has been expanded to introduce two new operational modes for bonded goods and cross-border e-commerce goods (referred to as “TIR + Bonded” and “TIR + Cross-border E-commerce"), with the declaration elements for each operational step clearly specified.

3. Operational details and declaration elements for specific procedural stages have been clarified, including the designated channels for querying TIR Carnet reference number.

(Prepared by: Department of Port Control, Zhengzhou Customs, and Urumqi Customs)