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BY THE END OF MAY 2017: TOTAL IMPORT-EXPORT TURNOVER REACHED NEARLY $US 162.45 BILLION

VCN- According to statistics released by the General Department of Vietnam Customs, the total import and export turnover of Vietnam in the first 5 months of 2017 reached $US 162.45 billion, an increase of 21.5%, equivalent to $US 28.77 billion over the same period in 2016.

by the end of may 2017 total import export turnover reached nearly us 16245 billion
The total import and export turnover of Vietnam in the first 5 months of 2017 reached $US 162.45 billion.

Preliminary statistics of the General Department of Vietnam Customs also show that the total import-export turnover of Vietnam in the second half of May 2017 (from 16th May 2017 to 30th May 2017) reached $US 20.08 billion, an increase of 22.9%, equivalent to $US 3.74 billion compared to the results in the first half of May 2017.

In particular, the import-export volume of foreign-invested enterprises in the period reached nearly $US 13.13 billion, an increase of 22.1%, equivalent to $US 2.38 billion, compared to the first half of May 2017. Over the past 5 months, the total import-export turnover of foreign-invested enterprises reached more than $US 106.5 billion, an increase of 23.7%, equivalent to $US 20.39 billion over the same period in 2016.

In the second half of May 2017, the trade balance of goods had a surplus of $US 540 million, bringing the trade balance of goods in the country in the first 5 months of 2017 to the deficit of nearly $US 2.5 billion, equivalent to 3.1 % of exports.

Regarding exports, the total export turnover of Vietnam in the second half of May 2017 reached more than $US 10.31 billion, an increase of 35.3% (equivalent to an increase of $US 2.69 billion) compared to the first half of May 2017.

Export turnover in the second month of May 2017 increased compared to the first half of May 2017 mainly in the following commodity groups: telephone and components increased by 34.7%, equivalent to $US 611 million; textiles and garments increased by 42.5%, equivalent to $US 339 million; machinery, equipment, tools and spare parts increased by 56.7%, equivalent to $US 265 million; footwear of all kinds increased by 34%, equivalent to $US 200 million. Meanwhile, only a number of commodity groups have an export turnover which decreased compared to the previous period, such as cameras, camcorders, and components with a decrease of 12.8%, equivalent to $US 17 million; coal with a decrease of 8.1%, equivalent to $US 2 million.

Thus, by the end of May 2017, total export turnover of Vietnam reached nearly $US 79.98 billion, an increase of 18.4%, respectively, equivalent to an increase of $US 12.45 billion over the same period in 2016.

The statistics of the General Department of Vietnam Customs also shows that the value of goods exported by FDI enterprises in the second half of May 2017 reached nearly $Ú 7.28 billion, an increase of 33.3%, equivalent to an increase of more than $US 1.82 billion compared to the first period of May 2017, thereby bringing the total export turnover in the first 5 months of 2017 to nearly $US 56.66 billion, an increase of 20 % over the same period in 2016, accounting for 70.8% of the total export turnover of Vietnam.

Regarding imports, the total value of imported goods in Vietnam in the second half of May 2017 reached more than $US 9.77 billion, an increase of 12.1% (equivalent to $US 1.05 billion) compared to the first half of May 2017.

Import turnover of goods in the second half of May 2017 increased over the first half of May 20117 mainly in the following commodities: computers, electronic products, and components increased by 17.1 %, equivalent to an increase of $US 232 million; machinery, equipment, and spare parts increased by 10.7%, equivalent to an increase of $US 177 million; phone accessories and parts increased by 33.9%, equivalent to an increase of $US 159 million; cashew nut increased by 126.2%, equivalent to an increase of $US 113 million; petrol and oil of all kinds increased by 39.1%, equivalent to an increase of $US 89 million. Meanwhile, the feed and material group fell by 46.9%, a decrease of $US 81 million, soybeans fell by 65%, a decrease of $US 25 million; coal fell by 45.4%, equivalent to a decrease of $US 24 million.

Thus, by the end of May 2017, the total import turnover of Vietnam reached more than $US 82.47 billion, an increase of 24.7% (equivalent to nearly $US 16.32 billion) compared to the same period in 2016.

The value of imported goods of FDI enterprises in this period reached nearly $US 5.85 billion, an increase of 10.6%, equivalent to an increase of $US 560 million compared to the first half of May 2017, thereby bringing the total import turnover of these enterprises in the first 5 months of 2017 to reach more than $US 49.84 billion, an increase of 28.1%, equivalent to nearly $US 10.94 billion compared to the same period in 2016.

By Ha Nhi/ Hoang Anh

Source: http://customsnews.vn/

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VTIP – TOOL FOR TRADE FACILITATION

VCN- The establishment of the Vietnam Trade Information Portal (VTIP)  does not only meets Vietnam’s commitments under Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) of the World Trade Organization (WTO), but also is an effective tool to further facilitate the parties relating to import and export and transit operations with Vietnam.  

vtip cong cu tao thuan loi cho thuong mai

Customs officers of Port Border Gate Customs Branch (Nghe An Customs Department) supervise import and export goods Photo: H.Nu

Strong promotion from Customs

According to the World Bank’s recent business environment report for 2017, Vietnam rose 9 places to the 82nd rank out of 190 economies. Particularly for the cross-border trade index relating to import-export operations; Customs clearance; and regulations on specialized inspection, Vietnam increased 15 places, from the 108th rank in 2016 to the 93rd in 2017. Compared to other countries in the ASEAN region, Vietnam is in the top four countries in the business environment. However, compared to countries with favorable business environment such as Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia, the gap between Vietnam and these countries is still quite large. Therefore, the Government Resolution 19-2017/NQ-CP set a target for Vietnam for 2017- 2020 to strive to reach a level at least equal to the average of ASEAN- 4 countries on the criteria of improving the business environment.

The representative of International Cooperation Department (General Department of Vietnam Customs) said that in order to implement the provisions of law as well as international commitments, in the recent time the Customs has gradually completed the legal system during the negotiation of TFAs or new FTAs. Besides, the Customs regularly organizes consultations and dialogues to solve problems of the business community; Comprehensive application of modern information technology in Customs procedures such as implementation of VNACCS/VCIS nationwide; Pilot implementation of supervision system at seaports; Connection between the Customs and Treasury, and Bank to simplify Customs procedures, facilitate businesses. In addition, the Customs also actively coordinate with ministries and sectors to implement administrative procedures for export and import goods on the Single Window, thereby creating maximum conditions for business activities, export and import of enterprises.

In addition, the Customs abandoned 19 procedures and simplified 46 procedures; Reduced many Customs documents; Allowed enterprises to submit electronic dossiers; publicized and reduced time to examine Customs dossier and physical inspection. In particular, the General Department of Vietnam Customs collaborated with the WB to develop VTIP to provide a complete and comprehensive reference source of information relating to import and export, the tariffs applied to import goods and details of process and procedures and forms to meet specialized inspection requirements. The purpose of VTIP is to help exporters, especially small and medium size enterprises know the process and procedures relating to their operations, thus saving time and operating expenses. In addition, VTIP will also play as an important role in assisting the Government towards simplifying and legalizing relevant administrative procedures.

Ready for operation

As chair of the negotiation of the TFA (approved in Bali, Indonesia in November 2014), the Ministry of Finance specifically the General Department of Vietnam Customs submitted to the National Assembly for ratification of the revised Protocol at the 10th session of the 13th National Assembly on November 26, 2015. On November 26, 2015 the National Assembly issued Resolution No.108/2015/QH13 approving of the Protocol to amend the Marrakesh Agreement to establish the WTO. In October 2016, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 1899 /QD-TTg on the establishment of the National Steering Committee for ASEAN Single Window, National Single Window and Trade Facilitation (Referred to as the National Steering Committee). In November, 2016 the Government issued the Action Plan to implement the TFA under Decision No.1969/ QD-TTg. On February 22, 2017 the WTO’s TFA took effect after being approved by two-thirds of the 164 WTO member countries.

As committed in the TFA, each member country, including Vietnam, needs to build a website to publicize and provide information. The development of this website not only meets Vietnam’s commitments under the TFA but also is an effective tool to further facilitate the parties relating to export, import and transit operations with Vietnam. It is also a tool to publicize policies as well as in international commitments that Vietnam joints and keep with the trend of World Customs – digital Customs 2016.

In order to help Vietnam implement well the commitments in the TFA, the WB supported Vietnam’s Government to establish and improve capacity of the National Steering Committee and build VTIP. The development of the VTIP has carried out since January 2016 at the General Department of Vietnam Customs and being consulted by PM Group under the WB. Currently, contents have been posted, with nearly 2,000 contents relating to legal regulations, process and procedures and export and import operations. In parallel with the development and posting the contents, the consultancy unit trained for officers of the General Department of Vietnam Customs to transfer technology to ensure the operation and update VTIP’s contents after the transfer, said by Mr. Chris Lewis Jones, the Head of Project Consulting and Management Team of VTIP.

In order to be ready for the opening and transferring the VTIP to the General Department of Vietnam Customs, to be expected to implement in early June 2017, preparations are being urgently completed. Coordination mechanisms among relevant parties, including ministries and sectors which have regulations relating to import and export operations published on the VTIP, are being developed and agreed among the parties to ensure that the contents posted on the VTIP are always updated and accurate. Currently, a review of the content posted on VTIP is being conducted by ministries and sectors under the direction of the General Department of Vietnam Customs to prepare the opening, said by Mr. Chris Lewis Jones.

Mr. Chris Lewis Jones added, “VTIP is designed to be one Single Window information post, providing information relating to Vietnam’s export and import in a accessible, logical and useful way for importers and exporters to access basic information about the necessary regulations and procedures for import and export and transit. VTIP is a useful tool to assist the Government and other relevant parties in reducing, modernizing and simplifying the import and export declaration procedures in line with international practices. With rich and comprehensive contents, VTIP is expected to save time and expense for importers and exporters in particular and contribute to facilitating and promoting Vietnam’s trade growth in general.

By Hong Nu/Ngoc Loan

Source: http://customsnews.vn/

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TAX DEBTS CAN BE PAID GRADUALLY IF THEY ARE GUARANTEED BY CREDIT INSTITUTION

VCN- If a business of tax debt is enforced but it cannot afford to pay the debt at once and propose to pay gradually, the tax debt will be paid within a maximum of 12 months from the beginning date of enforcement period for implementation of tax administrative decision with a guarantee of the credit institution.

tax debts can be paid gradually if they are guaranteed by credit institution

Customs officer of Pho Bang Customs Branch, Ha Giang Customs Department guides Tax policies for business Photo: T.Tr

It is guided by the General Department of Vietnam Customs before the request of Thien Hong Food Processing Joint Stock Company on the registration of import declarations during being enforced on tax debt payment.

According to the analysis of the General Department of Vietnam Customs, in Article 48 of Tax Management Law No. 78/2006/QH11 stipulates: “In the course of settlement of complaints or institution of lawsuits of taxpayers about tax amounts calculated or assessed by tax administration agencies, taxpayers shall fully pay these tax amounts, unless competent state agencies decide to temporarily suspend the execution of tax calculation or tax assessment decisions of tax administration agencies”.

In addition, in Clause 2, Article 3 of Law No.106/2016/QH13 (amending and supplementing Clause 4, Article 92 of the Law on Tax Administration) stipulates: “Tax enforcement measures may be postponed if the taxpayer is permitted by the tax authority to pay the tax debt by installments for a period not exceeding 12 months from the beginning of the tax enforcement period. The payment of tax by instalments shall be considered according to the taxpayer’s request, provided a credit institution offers a guarantee. The taxpayer shall pay late payment interest on the unpaid tax at 0.03% per day.

In Article 39 of Decree No. 83/2013/ ND-CP dated July 22, 2013 of the Government detailing the implementation of a number of articles of the Law on Tax Administration and the Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Tax Administration stipulates: “The taxpayer is not able to pay the tax debts at once may pay them in installments over no more than 12 months from the effective day of the decision on taxation enforcement, provided that taxpayers has the tax debts guaranteed by a credit institution, and a commitment to pay tax debts and late payment interest to the state budget is made”.

Based on the above provisions, in the course of settlement of complaints, the Company still has to fully pay tax and late payment (if any) as per regulations. If the Company of tax debt is enforced but cannot afford to pay the tax debts at once and propose to pay gradually, the tax debt will be paid within a maximum of 12 months from the beginning date of enforcement period for implementation of tax administrative decision with a guarantee of the credit institution.

The conditions, dossier, competency, time of settlement and paying tax debt in installments are specified in Article 39 of Decree No.83/2013/ND-CP dated July 22, 2013, and Clause 3 Article 3 Decree 100/2016 / ND-CP dated July, 2016 of the Government and Article 134 of Circular 38/2015/TT-BTC dated March 25, 2015, of the Ministry of Finance.

By Thu Trang/Ngoc Loan

Source: http://customsnews.vn/

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BINH DUONG CUSTOMS: TRAINING CUSTOMS PROCEDURE FOR JAPANESE ENTERPRISE LEADERS

VCN – On May 4th, 2017, Binh Duong Customs Department collaborated with the Japanese enterprise sub-association in Binh Duong to hold training conference on Customs procedures, import and export tax policy… for Japanese investment enterprises’ leaders in Binh Duong.

binh duong customs training customs procedure for japanese enterprise leaders
Leaders of Binh Duong Customs Department answered questions of enterprises at the conference. Photo: T.D

The Deputy Director of Binh Duong Customs Department Nguyen Truong Giang said that this is an activity aim to renovate the enterprise dialogue. Through this conference, the Customs and enterprise leaders will further communicate. Enterprise leaders will be directly responded questions about the mechanism, policies and laws relating to import and export procedures to comply with regulations.

At the conference, the representative of Binh Duong Customs Department published to the enterprise leaders about regulations and policies on the Customs procedures, inspection and supervision; Notifications about the popular obstacles of enterprises on the import-export duty for processed and manufactured goods for export in the recent time; Regulations on the issue of duty-free lists for creation of fixed assets; General provisions on analysis and classification of goods …

The Post-Clearance Audit Branch also stated some regulations as well as preferential policies for authorized economic operators; some notifications for enterprises in the use of digital signatures and wanted some violations of enterprises during the implementation of Customs procedures in Binh Duong for enterprises to get experience. The Deputy Director of Binh Duong Customs Department Nguyen Truong Giang emphasized that the Customs inspection aimed to the compliance rather than punishment. Accordingly, enterprises should pay attention to the coordination between the units to avoid violations.

At the conference, the representatives of some enterprises also directly asked about production norms for goods processed and manufactured for export. Specifically, the enterprises said that the actual norm shall not be declared to the Customs agency, and it is only presented to the Customs agency in examination process for settlement report, however, in the part of warns on enterprise’s regular (being detected during the examination by Customs) violations noted that the above act violated the provisions.

Answering this obstacle of enterprises, Binh Duong Customs Department said that in the examination process for the settlement report, the Customs agency will examine the accuracy of the norms presented by enterprises, this norm is the actual production norm at enterprises. However, for some reasons (such as the enterprises imported more than the declaration, or exported less than the declaration, or the raw material is lost due to the loose management of enterprise). The enterprise has to balance again and present the norms that are not true with the actual norms, this act is detected when the Customs agency examines, so the enterprise will be fined and has to pay the arrears (if any).

Regarding the goods classification, the representatives of the Import-Export Duty Division also noted that the enterprises need to distinguish between the taking sample for analysis and classification to determine tax code or taking a sample for inspection of the State quality to determine the commodity policy (eligible for import or not). Specifically, for goods are taken for analysis, classification to determine of tax code subject to goods release, meaning that after physical inspection and taking samples and declarations to release goods are implemented, the enterprises shall be allowed to take goods to the market and carry out payment procedures exporters without waiting for the results of classification analysis.

For goods are taken the sample for inspection of the State quality to determine the commodity policy subject to preservation, meaning that after physical inspection and taking samples and are implemented, the enterprises shall be allowed to take goods for preservation and shall be forbidden to use goods without the result of the quality inspection.

By Thu Diu/Ngoc Loan

Source: http://customsnews.vn/