Zhoushan Customs issue a total of 3,340 Certificates of Origin (COs) for exporters under its jurisdiction in the first half of this year, which helped them avoid around $13.9 million in tariffs. [Photo/WeChat account: china-zjftz]

In the first half of this year, Zhoushan Customs issued a total of 3,340 Certificates of Origin (COs) to exporters under its jurisdiction, which helped them avoid about $13.9 million in tariffs, according to official data.

The CO is meant to verify the country in which the goods were manufactured. Whether or not a CO is required is determined by the type of commodity being exported and its destination. The certificate allows some exports to receive preferential duty treatment.

One of the beneficiaries of the COs is Zhejiang Rongchuang Food Industry Co Ltd. This month, the company exported $1.21 million in canned tuna to Chile. The tariffs levied on the goods were slashed by $60,000 thanks to the COs, which were issued as a result of the free trade agreement reached between the two countries in early 2019.

"COs allow foreign customers to enjoy reductions in tariffs, which helps our products compete in the international market," said Zhang Zongying, a foreign trade salesman for the company. 

Local authorities have rolled out a series of measures to streamline CO application procedures. Efforts have been made to help newly registered companies learn about policies concerning COs and reduce the time required to apply for the certificates in the city.