Page 221 - Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)

2. In particular, each Party shall make available, and update to the Article 4.6: Enquiry Points
extent possible and as appropriate, the following through the
internet: Each Party shall designate one or more enquiry points to answer
reasonable enquiries of interested persons concerning customs matters
(a) a description of its procedures for importation, and to facilitate access to forms and documents required for importation,
1
exportation, and transit, including procedures for appeal or exportation, and transit.
review, that informs governments, traders, and other
interested persons of the practical steps needed for
importation, exportation, and transit; Article 4.7: Customs Procedures

(b) the forms and documents required for importation into, 1. Each Party shall ensure that its customs procedures and
exportation from, or transit through the territory of that practices are predictable, consistent, and transparent, and
Party; and facilitate trade, including through the expeditious clearance of
goods.
(c) contact information for the enquiry points as well as
information on how to make enquiries on customs matters 2. Each Party shall ensure that its customs procedures, where
as provided for in Article 4.6 (Enquiry Points). possible and to the extent permitted by its customs laws and
regulations, conform with the standards and recommended
3. To the extent possible, when developing new, or amending practices of the World Customs Organization.
existing, customs laws and regulations, each Party shall publish,
or otherwise make readily available such proposed new or 3. The customs authority of each Party shall review its customs
amended customs laws and regulations and provide a reasonable procedures with a view to simplifying such procedures to facilitate
opportunity for interested persons to comment on the proposed trade.
customs laws and regulations, unless such advance notice is
precluded.
Article 4.8: Preshipment Inspection
4. Each Party shall, to the extent practicable and in a manner
consistent with its laws and regulations and legal system, ensure 1. Each Party shall not require the use of preshipment inspections
that new or amended laws and regulations of general application in relation to tariff classification and customs valuation.
related to the movement, release, and clearance of goods,
including goods in transit, are published or information on them is 2. Without prejudice to the rights of any Party to use other types of
otherwise made publicly available, as early as possible before the preshipment inspection not covered by paragraph 1, each Party
date of their entry into force, in order to enable traders and other is encouraged not to introduce or apply new requirements
interested persons to become acquainted with them. regarding their use.

5. Nothing in this Article shall be construed as requiring the 3. Paragraph 2 refers to preshipment inspections covered by the
publication or provision of information other than in the language Preshipment Inspection Agreement, and does not preclude
of the Party. preshipment inspections for sanitary and phytosanitary purposes.

Article 4.9: Pre-arrival Processing

1. Each Party shall adopt or maintain procedures allowing for the
submission of documents and other information required for the

1 Each Party has the discretion to state on its website the legal limitations of this importation of goods, in order to begin processing prior to the
description. arrival of goods with a view to expediting the release of goods

4-4 4-5