Importers who source their products from China have an extra reason to pay attention to the First of October this year. Not only does it mark the commencement of the annual Golden Week holidays, but also heralds some new rules that may affect your shipments.
China’s 2025 Golden Week runs from 01 October to 08 October, a combined eight-day holiday for National Day and the Mid-Autumn Festival, with adjusted workdays on 28 September and 11 October.
Many offices and factories will be closed during this period, and we know that traditionally the interruption reaches for up to three weeks afterwards, because factory workers return to their home-towns, quite often very far from their work-place.
Importers who buy from China should also be aware of new regulations that take effect from 01 October 2025. Delays are possible as from late September as new border control procedures are phased in.
New Regulations on Goods from China
– Chinese Exporter Registration: All exporters must complete registration with Chinese tax authorities before export customs clearance can occur.
– End of Third-Party Declarations: Using an unrelated company’s name or licence to declare exports will no longer be permitted in China.
– Dual-Title Requirement: Factories without their own export licence must still be listed on customs documents as the “production and sales entity.” Their full details (name, address, tax ID) will need to be disclosed for verification.
Dual-Use Items Regulations
The new rules above should be considered together with China’s new Dual-Use Items Regulations (as distinct from “Dual-Title”). These rules are intended primarily to enhance national security by controlling items with both civilian and military applications. The category has been extended to now include AI, quantum computing, and genetic engineering.
These restrictions cover key rare earth elements and magnets (imposed in April 2025) and dual-use items (effective since last December). The rare earth controls, a response to increased U.S. tariffs, require special licenses for the export of seven elements and magnets.
Non-compliance with these new regulations carries risks, including fines and rejected shipments. We strongly recommend initiating discussions with your suppliers to ensure all parties are compliant with requirements, to minimise any potential disruptions to shipments.
Your suppliers in China can comply by:
– Amending their registered business scope to include “import & export.”
– Registering via China’s Single Window System.
– Completing registration with local tax authorities (including export rebate verification, where applicable).
If you are importing from China, talk to us at Colless Young for full details on shipping disruptions over Golden Week, as well as their new export regulations. Call Andrew, Tel: +61 7 3890 0800 email enq@collessyoung.com.au
