"Our products can enjoy more tariff deductions," said Song Xiaoying, assistant manager of the Import and Export Department of Zhongshan Lizhong Garment Manufacture Co Ltd, which was the first enterprise in the Gongbei Customs district receiving an RCEP certificate of origin (C/O) on 2022 New Year's Day.

With the new RCEP C/O, the company will see tariff reductions on a batch of clothing and accessories imported to Japan.

Starting from January 1, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the largest free trade agreement in the world, came into effect and will be implemented in six ASEAN countries including Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, as well as in Japan, New Zealand, Australia and China.

According to Zhongshan Customs, from January to November in 2021, Zhongshan's total imports and exports to the other 14 RCEP member countries reached 54.96 billion yuan, accounting for 22.7% of its total foreign trade value.