Merchants commuting between Pingtan and Taiwan will be allowed to carry overweight luggage , according to a new policy released by Pingtan customs authorities, reported Pingtan Times on July 16.

The policy, which started on July 15, currently only applies to merchants at the duty-free Taiwan Commodity Trade Market at Aoqian town in Pingtan. Sources said the scope of beneficiaries may expand to local enterprises in future.

Every qualified merchant may carry two special big bags for excess cargo in addition to their regular luggage, , said Zhou Junguang, chief of Pingtan Customs.

“Different from ordinary passengers, merchants have the privilege of carrying more luggage and enjoying simplified customs clearance,” he said.

Based on the policy, merchants only have to declare their cargo to the customs. The cargo will then be moved to the trade market to be inspected.This lowers the logistics costs for merchants.

The policy, without question, has won unanimous acclaim from businesspeople who said it will prepare for a flexible market.

Wang Dayou, who ran a cotton trade store at the commodity market, became the first of the policy’s beneficiaries, as he brought some cloth from Taiwan to Pingtan on July 15.

“Textile products have a seasonal market, with different needs in summer and winter. Thanks to the policy, now we can bring the cargo with us, which can help us test the waters and pave ways for further import decisions,” he said.

Pingtan Customs will continue to explore new patterns for cross-Straits freight transportation and grow the Taiwan Commodity Market, said Wang Jinzu, deputy director of Pingtan’s administration.

A passenger claims two baggages at the customs in Pingtan, Fujian province, July 15. Pingtan’s customs authorities recently stipulated a policy that allows ship passengers who are merchants at a local trade market to carry two more oversized bags with cargo, in a bid to boost the business at the market and promote cross-Straits trades. [Photo/ptnet.cn]

Background:

The Taiwan Commodity Market, which opened in June 2014, is located in Aoqian town.

It comprises 38 buildings in the Minnan folk style, divided into a duty-free zone, non-duty free zone and support function zone.

A favorable tax policy operates at the market, with tax exemptions granted by the Ministry of Finance on six categories of Taiwan goods: oil and grain products, farm products, textiles and garments, artwork, light industrial products, and medicine.

The daily cap per person is 6,000 yuan ($960), and purchasing records are tracked. If the sum exceeds the threshold, both customers and merchants must pay the tax.