Thailand Implements a New Trade Initiative for Mechanical and Electrical Products

Recently, the Shanghai Inspection and Quarantine Bureau discovered during the law enforcement process that China's export of mechanical and electrical products encountered new trade measures in Thailand, and there was a situation of detention at the Thai port. According to a report from the China National Times, the bureau has launched an investigation into this issue, visiting the company in a timely manner and inquiring Thai official information.

It is understood that on December 27, 2012, the Ministry of Commerce of Thailand issued the government gazette BE2555 requesting that some of the mechanical and electrical products exported to Thailand must be issued by an official agency of the exporting country or a third-party organization recognized by the official agency. The goods were inspected and met the standard requirements. After the customs clearance, the products involved in this measure include the following three categories: electric fans (all fan products under 8414.41), rice cookers (all rice cooker products under 8516.10.10) and light bulbs (all fluorescent lamps under 8539.31 and 8539.39). Bubbles, circular bulbs, and spiral energy-saving light bulbs) involve a total of 18 HS codes for Chinese trade goods, among which five HS-coded export commodities are statutory inspections of non-listed goods.

The introduction of this measure has led to a large number of products (mainly rice cookers and fluorescent light bulbs) of many exporters in Shanghai unable to clear up at Thai ports, delaying the normal trade flow of enterprises and adding a great cost burden to enterprises. .

According to statistics, a total of 164 batches of three types of commodities that were produced by local enterprises in Shanghai and examined by the Shanghai Bureau for export in 2012 and involved the measures involved a total value of nearly US$3 million. From the perspective of export batches and amounts, this measure has a small impact on the export trade of electromechanical products in Shanghai, which is dominated by high-end manufacturing industries, but it also loses in areas such as Guangdong, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang where processing trade and traditional manufacturing are dominant. Thai trade may bring about the impact of rising costs and lower efficiency. Judging from the situation in recent years, more and more small and medium-sized countries, especially countries such as Thailand and Vietnam, have begun to consciously improve their technical trade measures system, which will inevitably have a major impact on China’s exports. Domestic traders and inspection and quarantine departments are highly vigilant.