New tariff policy for cross-border e-businesses adopted too hastily

SINCE FRIDAY, China has been implementing new, mostly higher, tariff rates on cross-border retail purchases. But the implementation of the change was too quick, says Beijing News:

The low tariff rates that small overseas purchasing agents used to enjoy are now gone. Many analysts emphasize that although the new tariffs increase the burden on enterprises and consumers they still have some positive aspects because they can increase the government's financial revenue and make the market fairer for giant cross-border retail businesses.

However, the adjustment of the tariff rates came in such a hurry that trouble has been caused to enterprises and consumers, even certain customs. For example, many bonded zones were not prepared so they had to suspend some orders by consumers; in Zhengzhou tax exempt zone, for example, everything almost fell into chaos, according to reports.