Findings and Practices on Smart Customs in APEC Free Zones/Free Trade Ports

APEC Sub-Committee on Customs Procedures March2024 Findings and Practiceson Smart Customs in APECFree Zones/Free Trade Ports APEC Sub-Committee on Customs Procedures March2024 APEC Project:SCCP 05 2022S Produced by Dr Hua Tong, Presidential SecretaryDr Xia Zheng, Lecturer, School of Customs and Public AdministrationDr Min Deng,Lecturer, School of Customs and Public AdministrationMr Longhai Wang, MPA student, School of Customs and Public AdministrationMrChongyu Lin,Research Assistant,School of Customs and PublicAdministrationShanghai Customs College, No.5677 West Huaxia Road, Pudong New Area,Shanghai, China Mr Ruiqian WangOfficer,Dandong Customs House,Dalian Customs District,No.60 EastChangjiang Road, Zhongshan District, Dalian, Liaoning, China Ms. Jianyi YeSenior Officer, Division of Free Trade Zone and Special Control Area, HaikouCustoms District, No.61 Binhai Road, Longhua District, Haikou, Hainan, China Mr. Pipat SIRIJUMRASSKULDirector of Bonded Warehouse Audit Section, Tax Incentives Division, The ThaiCustoms Department, 1 Sunthornkosa Rd., Klongtoey, Bangkok, Thailand Overseers: Mr Jun Xu,Director, Department of International Cooperation, China Customs Ms Liu Yang,Senior Program Manager, Department of International Cooperation, ChinaCustoms ForAsia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Secretariat35 Heng Mui Keng TerraceSingapore 119616Tel: (65) 68919 600Fax: (65) 68919 690Email:info@apec.orgWebsite:www.apec.org © 2024 APEC Secretariat APEC#224-CT-01.9 ISBN: 978-981-18-9684-2 Acknowledgement Dear esteemed SCCP members of the APEC, We are pleased to announce the completion of the report titled "Findingsand Practices on Smart Customs in APEC Free Zones/Free Trade Ports"along with its two annexes. This study is the culmination of a collectiveeffort invested in the self-funded ProjectSCCP05 2022S "StrengtheningCustoms Smart Control and Services to Improve the Development of FreeZones/Free Trade Ports (FZs/FTPs)" from September 2022 to December2023. It was initially proposed by China and received joint sponsorshipfrom Thailandand Viet Nam. On behalf of the project research team: Dr. Hua Tong, Dr. Xia Zheng, Dr.Min Deng, Mr. Longhai Wang and Mr. Chongyu Lin from the ShanghaiCustoms College, Mr. Ruiqian Wang from Dalian Customs District, Ms.Jianyi Ye from Haikou Customs District among others,we express ourprofoundappreciation towards the relentless support from APECSecretariat and SCCP members, the professional guidance under theInternational Cooperation Department and the Free Trade Zone andSpecialControl Area Department of the General Administration ofCustoms of the People's Republic of China (GACC). And special thanks toMr. PIPAT SIRIJUMRASSKULfrom Thai Customs Department for hisvaluable contribution. Notably, we extend our gratitude to Mr. Jun Xu andMs. Liu Yang of the GACC for their diligent oversight on the project. Theircollaborative spirit and seamless coordination have been indisputablycrucial to this accomplishment. The Project Research Team 23 December 2023 TABLE OFCONTENTS 1.Research background..............................................................................................................................11.1Smart upgrade andcurrenttrade status........................................................................................11.2Customs faces newchallengesunder thebackground ofsmart upgrade.............................22. Research purposes...................................................................................................................................32.1EnhancingtheSmartCustoms controland servicesupgrade in APEC economies...........32.3Advancingtrade facilitation andinterconnectivity among APEC economies....................43. Research contents....................................................................................................................................53.1 Concepts.............................................................................................................................................53.1.1 Free zones/Free trade ports.....................................................................................................53.1.2 Smart technologies...................................................................................................................73.2 Free Zones/Free-Trade Ports(FZs/FTPs) development in APEC economies.................103.2.1 The currentstatus ofAPECFree Zones/Free-Trade Portsdevelopment..................103.2.2 Facing theProblems and Challenges.................................................................................113.3 APEC economies Free Zones/Free Trade Ports and customs smart control and services..................................................................................................................................................................143.3.1APEC economies Free Zones/Free Trade Ports and Customscontroland Services.....................................