Export Wines to China: Hong Kong Facilitates Wine Trade

On 18 Sep 2014, representatives of Hong Kong and Mainland China signed a supplement to the “Co-operation Arrangement on Customs Facilitation Measures for Wine Entering the Mainland through Hong Kong” (aka “Wine Facilitation Scheme”) which was implemented in 2010.

The scheme is based on cooperation between customs on both sides, which in turn will greatly expedite custom clearances of wines imported to the Mainland China through Hong Kong. Since the schemes implementation, 3.6 million liters of wines have entered China by registered exporters and importers. Under the supplement, in mainland China designated ports of Guangzhou and Shenzhen waive registration requirement which simplifies procedures with China Customs. 

Since Hong Kong granted zero-tariff treatment to imported wines in 2008, wine importation has grown significantly and has turned Hong Kong into one of Asia’s wine importation hubs. As a result of Hong Kong’s geological and political advantages, it has also become a wine distribution hub where a certain percentage of imported wines destined for re-export to Mainland China. If the scheme proves successful both sides are also planning to expand wine facilitation measures to other parts of mainland China.