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| Chinese Customs Prepares for WTO Entry |
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MON, NOV 12, 2001
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Chinese customs will strive to impprove its work after China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), said Director of General Administration of Customs (GAC) Mou Xinsheng in Beijing Sunday.
In an interview with the press, Mou said that Chinese customs will quicken its steps in changing its functions and ways of work to raise efficiency and improve law enforcement.
"We will go all out to do our jobs well in conformity to international norms," he said.
With China's entry into WTO, the customs will reform its operations and management in an all-round way to enhance its enforcement and raise the clearance efficiency, Mou said.
This is both a good opportunity and a serious challenge, he said, noting that GAC has set up a special panel for future WTO-related work and an office in charge of WTO affairs.
Mou mentioned five major tasks for GAC in this regard.
The first is to study WTO rules, especially the provisions related to laws and regulations, economic policies and administrative norms.
The second is to overhaul foreign-related laws and regulations that are not in line with WTO rules, honor China's commitments, follow the non-discrimination principle, and safeguard fair competition.
The third is to improve the tariff system and the structure of tariff items and rates, and regulations on tariffs and quotas in accordance with WTO rules. While gradually reducing import tariff rates, the customs will improve the tariff reduction and exemption policies step by step.
The fourth is to standardize administrative management, abolish irrational rules on examination, rectification, approval and registration for the record, and formulate standardized, fair, transparent and efficient systems for customs operations.
The fifth is to study WTO exceptional provisions, operation procedures and institutions for disputes arbitration. In accordance with WTO rules, GAC will learn from the effective practices of other countries and regions, and improve its law enforcement. It will guard against weakening of customs supervision after the WTO entry so as to safeguard national economic security.
Mou said the customs needs talented customs officers who are competent in language, national conditions, domestic laws and WTO rules, as well as trade regulations and technological standards of other countries.
Mou said Chinese customs will redouble its efforts to crack down on smuggling. It will hit hard at fake products to protect intellectual property rights, and combat efficiently the smuggling of drugs, weapons and endangered species of animals and plants.
Mou said the customs will set up risk control mechanisms, improve cooperation between customs and enterprises, and enhance cooperation with foreign customs, business circles and transnational organizations to fight smuggling and frauds.
By applying state-of-the-art information technology, Chinese customs will speed up the establishment of modern customs systems, making itself a scientific, efficient and uncorrupted one, Mou said.
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