Customs to intensify checks on imports of products for QIPs

Customs to intensify checks on imports of products for QIPs

The General Department of Customs and Excise of Cambodia (GDCE) has initiated steps to further strengthen the effectiveness of preventing the import of finished and semi-finished products for Qualified Investment Projects (QIPs) and subsequent exports, particularly to the US market.

These checks have been intensified from May 27 onwards, a GDCE statement said.

“The department has begun strengthening focus on physical inspection of imported inputs for the Qualified Investment Projects’ production facilities for processing and for exports to the US market,” read the statement.

“In case of detection of an offence, the goods in question must be seized and the applicable procedures for the offence must be continued.

“For those goods that comply with the declaration, the import procedure will be made easy to contribute to the production chain,” the statement, signed by GDCE Director General Kun Nhem added.

Regarding this matter, the Textile Apparel Footwear and Travel Goods Association in Cambodia (TAFTAC) has informed its members about the Customs Regulations Guidance dated May 27.

In its statement, the association reminded members that the import of finished or semi-finished products such as woven fabrics is prohibited, unless prior permission is obtained from the government through the Outward Processing Arrangement Mechanism.

Currently, Cambodia has more than 1,500 factories producing clothing, footwear, and travel products, with nearly one million workers employed in this sector.

After US President Donald Trump announced reciprocal tariffs on goods imported from Cambodia on April 3, the Royal Government has taken a series of measures to strengthen the efficiency of sourcing goods.

Also, Cambodia has established a working group to coordinate bilateral trade and investment relations between Cambodia and the United States, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and First Vice Chairman of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), Sun Chanthol.

In addition, the government is highly committed to strengthening procedures to prevent and suppress crimes and prevent fraud on the origin of goods, and to promote the implementation of the law on rules of origin in a transparent manner for exporting goods to the United States market, the Ministry of Commerce had said.

Regarding to the move, the government has issued an inter-ministerial declaration between the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Ministry of Commerce on measures to prevent and suppress counterfeiting of goods’ origin for the export of certain goods to the US market.

A declaration by the Ministry of Commerce on procedures for requesting and issuing certificates of origin for the export of certain goods to the US market aims to encourage and attract more foreign investors to invest in Cambodia.

khmertimeskh