Since 2017, Taicang Port Comprehensive Bonded Zone has witnessed strong growth in bonded business by reforming and adopting experiences taken from the Shanghai Free Trade Zone (FTZ).

From January to April of this year, enterprises in the zone have dealt with 6,166 bonded businesses, a year-on-year growth of 11.6 percent. This is due to the implementation of new customs policies such as category-based supervision, bonded commodity display and trade, and collective tariff payment.

Jiangsu Taide International Logistics Co. was selected as a pilot company to implement the category-based supervisory policy, which allows bonded and non-bonded commodities of a trade company to be stored in the same warehouse. The customs identification system uses barcodes to offer up to date information on commodities. The policy has helped trade companies save storage space and labor costs.

The Taicang Port Import Commodity Display and Trade Center is a venue for bonded commodity display and trade outside of the zone. More than 5,000 goods imported from 44 countries and regions are exhibited, with varieties covering household appliances, clothing and leather ware, daily necessities, food and liquor. All the goods have been inspected by customs and the entry-exit inspection and quarantine bureau, and are sold tax free, which ensures quality at a reduced price.

Under the customs collective tariff payment policy, foreign trade companies do not have to pay the tariff immediately when bonded goods are shipped out of the bonded zone. Instead, tariff fares can be paid depending on the total volume of goods imported over a period of time, this helps to streamline shipment procedures.