(ECNS) -- China may postpone the implementation of new rules on customs clearance for cross-border e-commerce businesses, but no clear timetable has been given, Beijing News reports.
The Ministry of Finance on April 7 unveiled on its website a "positive list" of imported goods in cross-border e-commerce. The following day, a new tariff policy for cross-border e-commerce, which was jointly issued by the Ministry of Finance, the General Administration of Customs and the State Administration of Taxation, took effect.
As the new policy was adopted too hastily, the postponement could be seen as a transition period, giving supervisors and enterprises time to adopt it, insiders said.
Xiao Xin, chief executive officer of Xianlife.com, told the paper that the company had received an oral notice from authorities about the delay.
Ten pilot cities would postpone the new customs clearance policy while the new tariffs and the "positive list" would be maintained and remain valid through May 10, 2017, Xiao said.
Chen Qicheng, the CEO of Zhongyou E-commerce, also told the paper that his company had received notices from customs, but more details were yet to be released.
Authorities had not responded to the rumor, the paper said, adding that an insider close to officials said the adjustments to customs clearance were likely to see their implementation postponed for a year.
