Circular No. 09/2009/TT-BCT on import under tariff quotas for the year 2009 with a 0% import tariff rate for goods originating from Laos.

CIRCULAR

Regarding the import under tariff quotas for the year 2009 with a customs duty rate of 0% on goods originating from Laos 0% for goods originating from Laos

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Pursuant to Decree No. 189/2007/ND-CP dated December 27, 2007, issued by the Government, detailing the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Industry and Trade;

Pursuant to the Agreement between the Ministry of Trade of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Ministry of Trade of the Lao People's Democratic Republic on goods benefiting from preferential customs duty rates, signed on July 28, 2005;

Pursuant to the Agreement between the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Lao People's Democratic Republic on the amendment and supplementation of the Agreement between the Ministry of Trade of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Ministry of Trade of the Lao People's Democratic Republic on goods benefiting from preferential customs duty rates, signed on January 17, 2009;

Implementing the Prime Minister's directive in Document No. 768/VPCP-QHQT dated February 6, 2009 regarding the signing of the agreement on preferential customs duty rates between Vietnam and Laos;

The Ministry of Industry and Trade stipulates the import under tariff quotas for the year 2009 with a customs duty rate of 0% on goods originating from Laos as follows:

Article 1. Apply tariff quotas for the year 2009 for two categories of imported goods originating from Laos, namely: paddy and all types of rice, tobacco leaves and stems, which enjoy a preferential customs duty rate of 0% (zero percent). The customs duty rate of 0% shall be applied to customs declarations for imported goods registered with customs authorities from January 1, 2009.

Article 2. The commodity codes and total quantities of tariff quotas for goods enjoying a preferential customs duty rate of 0% are set out in Appendix No. 01 attached hereto.

Article 3. Vietnamese traders may import goods such as paddy and all types of rice under tariff quotas. For tobacco leaves and stems, only traders holding import licenses for tobacco raw materials under tariff quotas issued by the Ministry of Industry and Trade in accordance with Circular No. 04/2006/TT-BTM dated April 6, 2006 of the Ministry of Trade (now the Ministry of Industry and Trade) are permitted to import; the quantity imported shall be deducted from the tariff quota for imports under the license issued by the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Article 4. Goods imported as specified in Article 1 of this Circular must have a Certificate of Origin in Form S (C/O form S) issued by the competent authority of the Lao People's Democratic Republic in accordance with regulations and cleared through the border gates listed in Appendix No. 02 attached hereto. Import procedures for goods shall be handled at the customs office where the import declaration is made according to the principle of automatic backward deduction (the total quantity of imported goods enjoying preferential customs duty rates is deducted by the quantity of each type of goods imported).

Article 5. This Circular takes effect 45 days from the date of issuance and expires on December 31, 2009. This Circular replaces Circular No. 04/2009/TT-BCT dated February 20, 2009 guiding the import under tariff quotas for the year 2009 with a customs duty rate of 0% on goods originating from Laos./.