China issues regulations for duty-free shops at ports of entry

BEIJING  -- Chinese authorities issued a notice on Friday to introduce interim management measures for duty-free shops at ports of entry.

The notice was jointly published by the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Commerce, General Administration of Customs, State Administration of Taxation and the China National Tourism Administration.

To meet domestic demand for foreign products, the State Council, China's cabinet, made the decision in April 2015 to reinstate and increase duty-free shops at ports of entry, according to the notice.

The total value of tax-free products purchased abroad and at duty-free shops together should be no more than 8,000 yuan ($1,227 dollars) for each Chinese citizen when returning to China via the listed ports, according to the regulations.

Meanwhile, the upper limit for tax-free products bought overseas remains unchanged at 5,000 yuan for each citizen.

The regulations became effective on Feb. 18, 2016.