On November 20, the reporter learned that the GeneralOffice of the Yichang Municipal People’s Government recently issued the Action Plan for Cost Reduction and Efficiency Improvement in Yichang Portto further cut time for customs clearance.

　　The Planproposes that the overall time for customs clearance for imports and exports will be reduced by 1/3 before January 1, 2019; the supervision certificates for imports and exports will be reduced by 1/3 before November 1, 2018; unreasonable charges will be cleared up before January 1, 2019, and the list of charges will be published in the workplace of the port. The Planclearly defines the main tasks and responsibilities of relevant departments such as commerce, customs, transportation and logistics enterprises, etc.

　　According to thePlan,the China (Hubei) International Trade Single Window will be actively promoted to ensure that the application rate of the main business of Single Window reaches 80% by the end of 2018. The AEO certification of foreign trade enterprises will be intensified, data of overall time for customs clearance will be released monthly, and simplification and networking of supervision documents required by the General Administration of Customs will be implemented. The supervision of the waterway transport market and port security will be strengthened, operational services for customs clearance cargo will be given priority to, and clearance and supervision of port charges will be strengthened. Foreign trade containers in the Yichang Port will be given preferential clearance. Supporting policies to encourage the reduction of overall time for customs clearance will be studied and formulated. Implementation of tax rebate policies in the port of departure Yunchi Port will be accelerated to improve the quality and effectiveness of tax rebate services. Tariff transit time will be reduced, the mode of tariff coffering of import and export enterprises in China (Hubei) Pilot Free Trade Zone Yichang Area will be improved, and the mode of direct transfer of tariffs to coffers by branches of commercial banks in the free trade area will be popularized.