China News Service, August 4th. According to the website of the National Development and Reform Commission, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Transport have jointly issued the "Action Plan for Cleaning up and Regulating Maritime Port Charges" (hereinafter referred to as the "Action Plan"). The Action Plan proposes that by 2022, a scientific, standardized and transparent port charging mechanism will be basically established, port service efficiency will be further improved, the business environment will be significantly improved, and import and export compliance costs will be significantly reduced.
Data map: container port. Photo by China News Agency reporter Luo Yunfei
The "Action Plan" clarified that by 2022, a scientific, standardized and transparent charging mechanism will be basically formed, port service efficiency will be further improved, business environment will be significantly improved, and import and export compliance costs will be significantly reduced.
The "Action Plan" proposes nine main tasks:
One is to further improve the port charging policy. Implement the policy of reducing the charges for cargo port charges and port facility security charges by 20% and extending them to December 31, 2020. Further reduce and merge port charges, and study the integration of port facility security fees into port operation leasing fees. Targeted reduction of the pilotage fee standards of coastal ports, and further expand the scope of ships for which the shipowners independently decide whether to use tugboats. Study and promote the reform of cargo port charges. According to changes in the situation, the "Port Charges and Billing Measures" were revised. Implement the policy of extending the port construction fee exemption period for import and export cargo to December 31, 2020, and study and clarify the relevant policies after the 2020 port construction fee collection period expires.
The second is to establish a system for the supervision, examination and investigation of seaport charges. For fee items subject to government pricing, a cost supervision and examination system shall be established, cost supervision and examination shall be carried out in a comprehensive and timely manner, and the results of cost supervision and examination shall be used as an important basis for price adjustment. For charging items subject to market-adjusted prices, conduct cost surveys when necessary to provide a basis for rationally formulating relevant policies and regulating market behavior.
The third is to regulate and guide the charging behavior of shipping companies. Give full play to the leading role of large state-owned shipping companies and the self-discipline role of industry organizations, promote shipping companies to rationally adjust the structure of shipping charges, standardize and simplify charging items, cancel unreasonable surcharges, and strictly implement the tariff filing system. Encourage my country's shipping companies to use upstream and downstream integrated development and alliances to expand their international logistics business and introduce competition to reduce transportation costs.
The fourth is to strengthen supervision of shipping and freight forwarding charges. Standardize the name and service content of shipping and freight forwarding charges, promote streamlining of charging items, and further standardize the behavior of shipping forwarding and freight forwarding to clearly mark prices.
The fifth is to regulate the charges for depots outside the port. Strengthen the guidelines for the charging behavior of depots outside the port. Promote the standardization of operating standards and charging behaviors for storage yards, such as washing and repairing containers, secondary lifting containers, strengthen supervision and inspection, and crack down on illegal and illegal charging behaviors in accordance with the law.
Sixth, improve the charging list system. Further strengthen the charging list system, comprehensively sort out the existing list, and adjust it dynamically, so that the list is in line with the actual situation and there are no charges outside the list. Explore the establishment of a national shipping port charge and service information release platform that relies on the "single window" of international trade, and centrally publicize the charge and service information of each link at each shipping port, so as to facilitate the comparison and selection of cargo owners and social supervision.
Seven is to further deepen the reform of decentralization, management, and service. Comprehensively sort out the management approval items set up by various departments in the customs clearance process at sea ports, and further eliminate items that are unreasonable or incompatible with the development situation. Encourage market operators such as tally, tugboat, and commissioned inspection to enter, and promote fair competition in the market. Reduce fees for inspection and quarantine at sea ports. Promote the government's purchase of services for services that fall within the scope of government responsibilities and are suitable for market-oriented provision. Reduce the time for import and export borders and document compliance at maritime ports to improve customs clearance efficiency. Continue to promote the interconnection and integration of information platforms such as ports, customs, railways, civil aviation, banking, insurance, and international trade "single window" information platforms, realize information sharing and joint supervision, and improve the digital level of import and export trade and intelligent management capabilities.
Eighth is to strengthen supervision and inspection. Continue to strengthen the supervision of maritime port charges, maintain a high-pressure situation, investigate and punish compulsory services and charges in accordance with the law, and clearly mark irregular prices and other illegal charges. Focus on the port investigation and inspection and quarantine links not implementing preferential reduction and exemption policies.
Ninth is to carry out a trial of simplified charging model. Select some large-scale ports to carry out pilot work, integrate the resources of relevant units at sea ports, clean up and simplify charging items, explore to provide one-stop payment services for shippers, and gradually promote them.
The "Action Plan" requires that all departments and regions should compare the division of labor and time limits of the main tasks of this action plan, formulate specific plans, consolidate responsibilities, ensure that tasks are implemented, and achieve practical results. Relevant enterprises should earnestly assume their due responsibilities and actively play a leading role. Relevant industry organizations shall strengthen industry self-discipline in accordance with the law.
Emphasize the need to strengthen exchanges at various seaports and learn from each other. Timely notify the problems and negative examples in the implementation of the policy, strengthen rectification; expose the serious and bad-natured typical cases.