More than 200 people from local and foreign trade bodies as well as Consulates General in Hong Kong joined the Mainland & Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement Forum on Agreement on Trade in Goods today.

Organised by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Ministry of Commerce, the forum introduced details of the initiatives set out in the agreement and the latest developments of the relevant trade facilitation measures.

Permanent Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Eliza Lee and Ministry of Commerce Department of Taiwan, Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Director-General Sun Tong spoke at the forum.

Representatives from the General Administration of Customs introduced details of the full implementation of the zero tariff arrangement by the Mainland for imported goods of Hong Kong origin and rules of origin under the agreement.

They also outlined measures which will help expedite customs clearance and reduce trade costs, making it easier for Hong Kong products to access the Mainland market.

Up to February this year, the value of Hong Kong products approved for export to the Mainland under CEPA zero tariff arrangement exceeded $100 billion, and tariff savings amounted to about RMB6.95 billion.