China – Singapore Free Trade Agreement (CSFTA)

China has been Singapore’s largest trading partner since 2013. The China – Singapore Free Trade Agreement (CSFTA) eliminates tariffs for 95% of Singapore’s exports to China, allows for third-party invoicing of goods, safeguards market access, and ensures a more predictable operating environment for service suppliers.

1 January 2009 Original Agreement 25 October 2011 Protocol to Amend the CSFTA 16 October 2019 Upgraded Protocol 1 January 2020 Rules of Origin provisions for petrochemical exports from Singapore

Key benefits

Upgraded Protocol

Increased efficiency and predictability for traders in the areas of Release of Goods, Advance Rulings and Express Shipments
Enhanced market access into China’s legal, maritime and construction services sector
Enhanced investment protection for Singapore investors in China and a more robust Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) mechanism
Digitalised submission of Certificate of Origin with the Electronic Origin Data Exchange System (EODES) from November 2019 onwards
Improvements in Rules of Origin (ROO) allow more petrochemical exports from Singapore to qualify for preferential treatment (with effect from 1 January 2020)

Eligibility

Use the Tariff Finder to see if your product is eligible to enjoy this FTA's tariff concessions.

Alternatively, you can explore the following steps to check your eligibility.

Your product’s preferential rate Check the Tariff Schedule for preferential rates offered on your product.
Your product’s rule of origin

Rules of origin are a set of criteria which determine a product's originating status in each respective FTA. It is put in place to ensure that only goods originating from the FTA partner countries will benefit from tariff concessions.


Is your product obtained/produced entirely within Singapore?		Your product is considered wholly obtained in Singapore

Does your product fall under the list of Product Specific Rules?		Your product may be considered as originating from Singapore/China

40% of its contents must originate from Singapore/China


Is your product obtained/produced entirely within Singapore?

	Your product is considered wholly obtained in Singapore
	Does your product fall under the list of Product Specific Rules?

	Your product may be considered as originating from Singapore/China
	40% of its contents must originate from Singapore/China

Apply

Singapore Customs is the authorised body in Singapore for FTA Preferential Certificate of Origin (PCO) application.

Register your factory with Singapore Customs using the Manufacturer's Application Form
Submit the Manufacturing Cost Statement
Apply for a Preferential Certificate of Origin (PCO)

The process from registration to receiving the PCO typically takes less than one month.