Starting from April 1st, cross-border e-commerce returns no longer need to "take a detour", and goods can be returned across customs regions nationwi

To further promote cross - border e - commerce exports, the General Administration of Customs recently issued an announcement, stating that starting from April 1, 2026, the cross - customs - district return model for cross - border e - commerce retail export goods will be promoted across all customs in the country.

The cross - customs - district return of cross - border e - commerce retail export goods (Customs supervision code: 9610) refers to a supervision model where, when the goods retailed and exported by cross - border e - commerce enterprises are returned overseas, they are no longer required to be returned to the original export customs. Instead, enterprises can flexibly choose any customs port across the country to handle the procedures for the return of goods into the country.

It is reported that the General Administration of Customs issued an announcement in November 2024, specifying that starting from December 15 of that year, a pilot of the cross - customs - district return supervision model for cross - border e - commerce retail exports would be carried out at 20 directly - affiliated customs, including those in Beijing, Tianjin, Dalian, Harbin, Shanghai, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Chengdu, and Urumqi. After a one - year pilot, it is now ready for national promotion.

According to the requirements of the announcement issued this time, the cross - customs - district return only applies to cross - border e - commerce retail export goods, that is, the "9610 model". At the same time, cross - border e - commerce retail export return goods can be returned across customs districts, but the returned goods are only allowed to be sent back to the customs supervision operation sites or areas where cross - border e - commerce retail export business is carried out.

In addition, the announcement also clarifies that enterprises carrying out cross - customs - district return business for cross - border e - commerce retail exports should operate in a standardized manner and have independent operation functional areas. The data of relevant production and operation systems should be open to the customs or connected to the customs information system.

As a new form of international trade, cross - border e - commerce has developed rapidly in recent years and has become an important engine for promoting China's foreign trade growth. However, while cross - border e - commerce is developing rapidly, the issue of cross - border returns has always been a pain point and difficulty that plagues the industry's development.

A relevant person in charge of the General Administration of Customs said that the introduction of this cross - customs - district return policy aims to solve the industry pain points of "difficult returns, high costs, and long cycles" in the traditional model, provide enterprises with a more efficient and cost - effective reverse logistics channel, thereby enhancing the shopping experience of consumers and strengthening the international competitiveness of enterprises. In addition, combined with the tax preferential policy for cross - border e - commerce export return goods jointly issued by three departments including the Ministry of Finance in February this year, a synergistic and superimposed policy effect can be formed to jointly reduce costs and increase efficiency for cross - border e - commerce enterprises. (Xinhua News Agency. Reporter: Zou Duowei. Responsible Editor: Shi Ge)