The UK Club informed that its correspondents, Huatai Marine, reported on an announcement by China regarding a pilot program to partially open up China’s coastal trade.
More specifically, eligible foreign vessels, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Macao Special Administrative Region will be allowed to participate in the pilot program which will involve vessels trading between Dalian Port, Tianjin Port, and Qingdao Port with the Yangshan Port Area of Shanghai Port serving as international transshipment port.
The pilot program started commenced on 18.11.2021 and will end on 31.12.2024.
The announcement sets out detailed provisions for submitting applications to participate in the pilot programme. The following requirements must be complied with:
- The vessel must be an intercontinental ship operating on main routes;
- The allowed cargo must be container cargo carried under through bills of lading;
- The principle of reciprocity must be met i.e. Chinese companies are to be accorded equivalent rights to participate in the coastal trade of the place of operation and control of the applicant liner company, and of the country/region where the vessel is registered.
Vessels which do not comply with the above requirements and which have not been issued with an Approval Letter by the MOT will continue to be prohibited to carry container cargo between Chinese ports.
EXPLORE MORE AT THE CIRCULAR FOR CHINA’S ANNOUNCEMENT
