Hebei Province has recorded significant progress in the credit system development for its foreign trade enterprises this year.
According to statistics from Shijiazhuang Customs, a total of 30 foreign trade companies in the province obtained AEO (Authorized Economic Operator) certification from customs authorities between January and May.
By the end of May, the cumulative number of AEO-certified enterprises in the province had reached 256, covering several key industries such as steel equipment, biomedicine, and agricultural product processing, indicating a further expansion in the coverage of certified firms.
The AEO system is a certification framework advocated by the World Customs Organization, offering preferential treatment and facilitation to companies with strong credit standing, high compliance levels, and robust security standards.
Enterprises that achieve AEO certification can enjoy a series of beneficial management measures, including priority processing, reduced inspection frequency, and optimized services, which help effectively lower international trade costs and enhance global competitiveness.
On April 1 this year, the revised "Measures of the People's Republic of China on the Administration of Customs Registration, Filing, and Enterprise Credit" officially came into effect, with the AEO system being a core component.
The newly revised measures have introduced optimizations and adjustments in areas such as enterprise credit rating classification, certification criteria, and error tolerance mechanisms.
Notably, the revised measures have, for the first time, incorporated an error tolerance mechanism, allowing enterprises that commit minor violations after certification to be granted a rectification period of up to one year while retaining their original credit rating during this time.
The updated measures have also made corresponding adjustments and improvements to the AEO enterprise re-evaluation procedures, applicable entities, and management practices.
"After becoming an AEO enterprise, our customs clearance efficiency has improved, regulatory services are better, and trust from international clients has increased significantly," said Wang Chenglong, General Manager of Gentherm Automotive Systems (China) Co., Ltd.
As one of the first batch of AEO-certified companies in Hebei following the implementation of the revised measures, the firm has tangibly experienced the developmental benefits brought by enhanced credit status, securing three new overseas clients this year.
To enable more companies to benefit from certification advantages, Shijiazhuang Customs has implemented multiple measures to promote policy adoption.
On one hand, it has organized several policy briefing sessions to systematically explain the key adjustments in the revised measures.
On the other hand, it has established specialized credit cultivation teams to provide tailored, on-site guidance for companies with application intentions, standardizing aspects such as document review, internal control systems, and trade security.
Simultaneously, customs authorities have appointed enterprise coordinators to serve as dedicated points of contact, addressing individual issues encountered by companies during customs clearance and certification processes and responding promptly to business needs.
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