China Export License: What You Need to Know in 2024

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Understand China's 2024 export license requirements. Learn which goods need a license, how to apply, and avoid compliance risks for international trade.

In international trade,the export license is an important system used by many countries to control the export of specific goods.For Chinese enterprises,whether to apply for an export license needs to be comprehensively judged according to the specific category,form,and destination of the exported goods.The following is a detailed interpretation of the Chinese export license system to helppractitioners quickly master the key points.

I.Do You Need to Apply for an Export License?

According to the "Catalogue of Goods Subject to Export License Administration (2024)" issued by the Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs of China,In 2024,only 43 categories of goods were included in the scope of export license management.,and other goods (such as ordinary electromechanical products,lamps,etc.) do not need to apply for a license when exporting.

Core Judgment Criteria:

  • Whetherthegoodsareinthecontrolcatalogue::Beforeexport,itisnecessarytocheckwhetherthegoodsbelongtothe43typesofcontrolledgoods(seethespecificlistbelow).
  • Exportdestination::Forsomegoods(suchaslivecattle,livepigs),exportstoHongKong,Macao,orlandborderportsareexemptfromthelicense.
  • FormofCommodities:Forexample,silvermustbeinanunwroughtorsemi-manufacturedstate.Processedfinishedproductsmaynotberestricted.

II.Which Goods Need an Export License?

In 2024,the 43 types of goods subject to license management are mainly divided into the following categories:

2Classification Table of Goods Subject to Export License Management in 2024 (Full List of 43 Types)

Output:

CategorySpecific Commodity List
Agricultural productsLive cattle (except for exports to Hong Kong,Macao and land border ports)

Live pigs (except for exports to Hong Kong,Macao and land border ports)

Live chickens (except for exports to Hong Kong,Macao and land border ports)

Wheat

Corn

Rice

Licorice and licorice products

Silk products (reeled silk,processed silk,etc.)

Sugar (raw sugar,white sugar,etc.)

Energy MineralsCoal

Crude oil

Refined oil products (gasoline,diesel,aviation kerosene,etc.)

Rare earths (in the form of oxides,metals,etc.)

Tungsten and tungsten products

Antimony and antimony products

Molybdenum and molybdenum products

Phosphate rock

Bauxite

Magnesite

Fluorite

Chemical ProductsOzone - depleting substances (CFCs,HCFCs,etc.)

Paraffin wax

Precursor chemicals

Monitored chemicals

Strategic MaterialsNuclear materials and nuclear equipment

Missiles and related items

Military products (including dual - use items)

Satellites and their components

Resource - based CommoditiesTimber (logs,sawn timber,etc.)

Charcoal

Indium and indium products

Germanium and germanium products

Magnesium and its products

Zirconium products

Ephedra sinica and its products

Nostoc flagelliforme

Other Special ItemsAncient books (books,documents,etc.before the Republic of China)

Platinum (platinum or white gold)

Silver (unwrought or semi - manufactured state)

Motorcycles and their engines

Automobiles and chassis

Coke

Silicon carbide

Note:

Output:

  • Exemptionclause:Nolicenseisrequiredfortheexportoflivecattle,livepigs,andlivechickenstoHongKong,Macao,orlandborderports.Forsomecommodities(suchassilver,rareearths),specificformsorusagerestrictionsneedtobemet.
  • Dynamicadjustment:Thecatalogmaybeupdatedduetopolicychanges.Itisrecommendedtocheckregularly.
  • Violationrisk:Forcommoditiesintheexportcatalogthatareexportedwithoutapplyingforalicense,thecustomswilldetainthegoodsandimposeafine.Inseriouscases,criminalliabilitymaybeincurred.

III.How to Apply for an Export License?

Applicable enterprises: All Chinese enterprises (including foreign - invested enterprises) engaged in the export of commodities in the catalog.

Application process:

  • Confirmthecommoditycategory:CheckwhetherthecommodityrequiresalicensethroughthecustomsHScodeortheMinistryofCommercecatalog.
  • Preparematerials:

Business license of the enterprise,Qualification certificate

Export contract,description of commodity technical parameters

Other special documents (for example,approval documents from the public security department are required for precursor chemicals)

  • Submit the application: Submit materials to the Ministry of Commerce or local commercial authorities (online processing is available).
  • Review and issue the license: Generally,the review is completed within 5 - 10 working days.After passing,the Export License of the Peoples Republic of China will be issued.
  • Customs clearance and release: Declare exports to the customs with the license.Export without a license will face fines or seizure of goods.
  • IV.Frequently Asked Questions

    • Howtoquicklydeterminewhetheracommodityrequiresalicense?

    Log in to the official website of the Ministry of Commerce to query the Catalogue of Goods Subject to Export License Administration,or entrust a customs broker to assist in checking the HS code.

  • How long is the validity period of the license?
  • Usually 6 months.If it is not used after the expiration date,a new application is required.

  • What will happen if a commodity in the export catalog is exported without applying for a license?
  • The customs will not release the goods,and the enterprise may be fined up to 30% of the value of the goods.In serious cases,criminal liability will be pursued.

  • Does the export of processing trade require a license?
  • If the processed finished product belongs to the commodity in the catalog,a license still needs to be applied for.

    V.Precautions

    • Payattentiontopolicydynamics:Theexportcontrolcatalogmaybeadjustedduetofactorssuchasnationalsecurityandresourceprotection.ItisrecommendedtoregularlyconsulttheannouncementsoftheMinistryofCommerce.
    • Specialtrademethods:Exportfrombondedareas,etc.maybesubjecttodifferentrules.Itisnecessarytoconsulttheregulatoryauthoritiesinadvance.
    • Complianceofexportdestination:Somecountries(suchascountriesunderUNsanctions)mayhaveadditionalimportlicenserequirements.Itisnecessarytoconfirmwithoverseascustomers.

    Summary

    Whether an export license needs to be applied for depends on whether the commodity belongs to the 43 types of goods currently controlled in China.Enterprises can quickly judge by checking the catalog,confirming the commodity form and export destination.For commodities that require a license,be sure to apply in advance to avoid trade risks due to incomplete procedures.In a complex foreign trade environment,compliant operation is the core prerequisite for ensuring the smooth progress of transactions.

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