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China to join TIR
[ July 26, 2016 // Chris ]China has ratifed the TIR customs transit system convention for moving goods across international borders and it will enter into force on 5 January 2017, says the United Nations.
It will lead to “new efficient and faster transport opportunities and transport routes between China and Europe” and could be “a real game changer for international trade,” said UNECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe) executive secretary, Christian Friis Bach.
Around 60% of the 520 billion worth of trade between China and the EU was by sea in 2015, with rail and road accounting for 10% of China’s exports to the EU, and 3.2% of the EU’s exports to China.
Secretary general of the International Road Transport Union (IRU), Umberto de Pretto, described it as “an important step in harmonising standards and boosting transport, trade and development across the Eurasian landmass. IRU has been a strong supporter of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, and we will continue working closely with the Chinese government and business community as we turn our attention now to implementing the TIR system.”
Over 35,000 road transport operators worldwide are already authorised to use the TIR system carrying out around 1.5 million TIR border crossing procedures per year.
Joining TIR will facilitateChina’s trade with Central Asian countries, Mongolia aas well as the European Union. its northern and western neighbours are already in the TIR system, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, the Russian Federation and Tajikistan.
China is also working towards joining other UN conventions including CMR (Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road), the International Convention on the Harmonization of Frontier Controls of Goods and ADR (European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road).
Area in green shows extent of the TIR system after China’s accession next year