The Coronavirus has just been declared a global emergency by the WHO, impacting tourism, customs and trade around the world.
With the extension of the Lunar New Year holiday period and the advice by the Chinese government for people to remain at home – this will have an impact on manufacturing, shipping and supply of services, especially at government level. China and particularly Wuhan is in lockdown, with industrial production grinding to a halt. (Refer links below).
These developments will affect customs brokers, freight forwarders and importers.
With China’s significance to trade globally and in Australia, they are key questions relating to how importers will be able to claim preferential rates of duty under ChAFTA, and if they are unable to obtain certificates of origin (COO).
These matters have been raised with the Australian Border Force (ABF) querying whether ABF will put in place any special dispensation during this period; whether they would permit importers/customs brokers to enter goods under ChAFTA, where applicable, without a COO and could this be achieved on the understanding they would obtain same as soon as industry/government operations in China returned to normal.
ACF is monitoring the situation extremely closely and will continue to update our partners with information as soon as we know. Discussions have also been had with Shipping Australia Limited (SAL) looking for clarification as to their response during this period and the measures being put in place at either load/transhipment or destination ports.
Links to relevant articles:
https://www.china-briefing.com/news/managing-china-business-during-coronavirus-outbreak-updates-advisory/
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-health-shanghai/companies-in-shanghai-cannot-resume-work-before-february-9-due-to-virus-fight-government-idUSKBN1ZQ0M0
https://www.afr.com/world/asia/how-the-coronavirus-is-hitting-business-20200128-p53va7
https://www.china-briefing.com/news/coronavirus-latest-emergency-measures-announced-prc-government/
https://factcheck.afp.com/china-coronavirus-australian-authorities-refute-hoax-about-contaminated-foods-and-locations
https://www.freshplaza.com/article/9184323/china-s-coronavirus-impact-on-australia-s-fruit-exports/
As the situation develops we will keep you informed.
Thank you
The ACF Team