New China Retail e-Commerce Regulations

January 2019 | China

China has substantially changed certain policies applicable to retail e-commerce imports in a joint circular issued by the Ministry of Commerce, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Finance, the General Administration of Customs (“GAC”), the State Administration of Taxation and the State Administration for Market Supervision, with effect from 1 January 2019.  In conjunction with this joint circular, GAC issued implementing regulations.  These new retail e-commerce import regulations introduce significant opportunities in certain consumer good categories as well as some new requirements and obligations about which interested parties should be aware.  These new regulations advance China’s efforts to diminish the role of so-called grey market channels, commonly referred to as Daigou.