Customs actively follows Government’s direction on removing goods congestion in Northern border gates

	Sugar smuggling case at two sides of border gate handled
	GDVC guides customs procedures for goods in transit

Kim Thanh II international road border gate in Lao Cai has suspended import and export activities from February 17, 2022 due to the application of measures to prevent and control the Covid-19 pandemic by the Chinese government. Photo: T.Binh.

Active and flexible performance

On December 27, 2021, the Government Office issued Notice 350/TB-VPCP on the conclusion of Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh at an online meeting on handling goods congestion in the Northern border gates.

Accordingly, the Deputy Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance to coordinate with relevant ministries and government agencies build "green zones" and "green channels" in border gate areas (Covid-19-free zones) with the process and standards in line with requirements on disease prevention and control of the Chinese authorities.

On January 10, the Government Office issued Notice 08/TB-VPCP on the conclusion of Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh at the online meeting on the same day for this issue. Accordingly, the Deputy Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Finance (General Department of Vietnam Customs) to perform two tasks.

Firstly, regarding the short-term solution, the Ministry of Health coordinates with the Ministry of Finance to urgently issue regulations for Covid-19 prevention and control in accordance with requirements of the Chinese government in the Northern border gates, especially Lang Son, Quang Ninh and Lao Cai.

Secondly, for long-term solutions, the Ministry of Industry and Trade leads and collaborates with the ministries of Finance, Transport and relevant agencies in reviewing border trade and increasing official-quota exports to take advantage of other modes of transport such as sea and railway.

At an online meeting to discuss solutions to facilitate quick customs clearance of import and export goods in the Northern border area on March 1 held by the General Department of Vietnam Customs (GDVC), the representative of the Customs Control and Supervision Department said Customs researched and found that each Chinese locality has different standards for disease prevention.

Therefore, on January 13, the GDVC issued Official Letter 141/TCHQ-GSQL requesting customs departments in the northern borders to work with local agencies to build green-zones to be consistent with the Chinese regulations while ensuring customs control for imported and exported goods.

On January 27, the country’s top customs regulator submitted to the Ministry of Finance Official Letter 930/BTC-TCHQ on medical requirements and regulations for Covid-19 prevention at the border gates.

For the second task in Notice 08/TB-VPCP, the Customs Control and Supervision Department said Article 51 of the Customs Law and guidance documents fully stipulates customs control for goods traded by border residents. The GDVC will coordinate with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and relevant ministries to review as requested.

Working with Chinese Customs on trade facilitation

From September 23, 2021, the GDVC sent a Diplomatic Note to the Director General of Chinese Customs.

Vietnam Customs proposed the Chinese Customs authority to facilitate and take cooperation measures such as exchanging information on each side's customs regulations, updating new customs regulations and policies; exchanging information before goods arrive, prolonging customs clearance time at national and bilateral border gates; allowing import and export goods and customs clearance at bilateral border gates serving Vietnam - China border trade; establish and maintain communication between customs units at pairs of border gates.

On February 11, the Director General of Chinese Customs sent a Diplomatic Note to Vietnam Customs, agreeing with the proposal and strengthening cooperation with Vietnam Customs in building "smart customs, smart border, and smart customs clearance”.

At the same time, it would soon complete the negotiation of an agreement on customs cooperation and administrative support, promptly notify changes in management policies and customs procedures, expedite the exchange of intelligence information, experiences and practices in anti-smuggling work, promote the building of a safe trade environment and facilitate customs clearance of the two countries.

In addition, the Ministry of Finance and the GDVC have worked with relevant ministries and local authorities to handle goods congestion at the border gates.

The solutions offered by the Customs sector include maximum facilitation and fast customs clearance within the day for exports; arranging officials to perform customs procedures and supervision outside working hours; coordinating with border guards, police and competent agencies to regulate and facilitate vehicles entering and exiting the border gates.