GACC Revises Measures for Credit Management of Registered and Filed Enterprises

On January 13, 2026, the General Administration of Customs (GACC) issued the Administrative Measures for Credit Management of Registered and Filed Enterprises of China Customs (GACC Decree No. 282) (the “Measures”), which will take effect on April 1, 2026.

The Measures clarify that the customs credit rating for enterprises is divided into Advanced Certified Enterprises, Certified Enterprises, Regular Enterprises, Untrustworthy Enterprises, and Seriously Untrustworthy Enterprises, with Advanced Certified and Certified Enterprises defined as China AEOs and eligible for AEO mutual recognition convenience measures. Customs may collect credit information related to registration, import and export operations, administrative permits, administrative penalties, joint incentives and sanctions, and AEO mutual recognition, and disclose this information according to classification and law; enterprises must submit annual reports on credit information and may appeal if they have objections concerning disclosed information.

The Measures refine the criteria for determining untrustworthy and seriously untrustworthy status, taking into account the number and amount of administrative penalties, overdue payment of taxes and fines, revocation of permits, smuggling and intentional violations of Export Control Law, resisting law enforcement, and bribery, among other factors. The procedures for application, on-site certification, review, downgrade, rectification, and renunciation of Advanced Certified and Certified Enterprises are stipulated, and re-certification is restricted for untrustworthy and seriously untrustworthy enterprises.

Untrustworthy information is classified as minor, general, or serious, with general and serious untrustworthy information publicly disclosed for one year and three years, respectively. The Measures establish mechanisms for information disclosure and credit repair application, review, and non-repair situations on the “Credit China” platform and clarify the rules for inclusion and removal from the seriously untrustworthy entity list.