Core conclusions:There are two main issues discussed in this article: First, General Administration of Customs of China announced on October 16 that they would solicit public opinions regarding the nationwide promotion of returns for cross-border e-commerce purchases of goods imported through bonded imports. The deadline for submitting feedback is October 25th. Second, U.S. customs has extended the enforcement period for the electronic declaration of Entry Type 13 for international postal packages by 90 days, until January 20, 2027. One of these issues relates to the efficiency of export returns, while the other concerns the delivery schedule for small packages sent to the United States.
Around October 16th, several events related to factory deliveries took place: In China, General Administration of Customs of China published a draft proposal on the use of 1210 bonded imports for nationwide implementation; overseas, CBP in the United States extended the deadline for electronic declarations through postal channels. SHEIN also tightened its control over subsidies for merchants’ shipping costs. At the exhibition, the 140th Canton Fair conference was underway, and official data showed record-high numbers of new products being launched for the first time. Let’s analyze these events one by one.
General Administration of Customs of China: The return of goods imported through bonded import methods online is now being promoted nationwide. You can submit your opinions until October 25th.
According to the notice regarding public consultation issued by General Administration of Customs of China on October 16th, the agency has drafted an “Announcement on the Comprehensive Promotion of Return Services for Cross-border E-commerce Goods Imported Under Bonded Customs Procedures”. The goal is to expand the return service for imported goods under the 1210 regulatory framework from a pilot program to a nationwide initiative. The public can provide feedback through the agency’s website comment system or in writing by October 25th. At the same time, the agency will also review whether there are any provisions in the announcement that could undermine fair competition.
For companies engaged in cross-border e-commerce imports (including products from factory-owned brands that are brought back to the domestic market), the implementation of this policy for returning goods across different customs zones means that the previously only available option of returning goods through a few designated customs zones can now be utilized nationwide. This means that customers no longer need to return their goods to the original customs zone, thereby improving both the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of reverse logistics processes. If your warehouse for storing returned goods is located in a different place from the customs zone where the goods were declared, then this policy deserves special attention. The deadline for submitting feedback is October 25th. Companies with practical challenges in this area still have time to submit their applications.
The electronic declaration process for US postal packages has been postponed by 90 days. Additionally, SHEIN’s semi-managed services have undergone stricter regulations.
According to information disclosed by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the U.S. Federal Register on October 16th, the enforcement of the Entry Type 13 electronic declaration requirements, which were originally scheduled to begin on October 22, 2026, in relation to tariffs applicable under Articles 201, 232, and 301, as well as other federal regulations governing international postal packages, has been postponed by 90 days, to January 20, 2027. The testing process will continue, and the tariffs and other regulatory requirements already applied to related goods will not be affected. Sellers of small packages shipped to the United States will have an additional quarter for adapting to the new declaration system.
At the platform level, certain restrictions will be implemented simultaneously: According to announcements from SHEIN and media reports in the industry, starting from mid-to-late October 2026, merchants whose DSR scores are below 4 stars, or who have no DSR scores at all, will be denied access to setting up shipping costs. They will also be unable to utilize shipping subsidies. The platform conducts assessments at the beginning of each month. Merchants with fewer than 30 orders over the past 90 days will also be disqualified from receiving subsidies. Stores that have been established for less than 30 days cannot use subsidy tools until they meet the required criteria regarding their scores and order volume. The distribution of subsidies has changed from “universal distribution” to “performance-based distribution”, with an assessment cycle of one month.
Data overview: Remember these three key points carefully.
| matters | point | What the factory needs to do |
|---|---|---|
| General Administration of Customs of China1210: Feedback on returns across different regions | Feedback must be submitted by October 25th. | Companies with difficulties in handling returns from bonded imports are encouraged to submit their concerns. At the same time, it is also necessary to evaluate the layout of the return storage facilities. |
| U.S. Entry Type 13 Electronic Declaration | Postponed to January 20, 2027 for enforcement | Sort by effective date in reverse order. First, ensure that the submission process works properly during the testing period. Don’t wait until December to start this process. |
| SHEIN Semi-Managed Shipping Subsidy Permissions | Monthly assessments will begin in mid-to-late October. | DSR is below 4 stars. Prerequisite services and delivery time are satisfactory. For orders placed within 90 days, the number of orders is less than 30. |
According to reports from CCTV Finance and People's Daily on October 16th, on the second day of the 140th Canton Fair event, hundreds of innovative products were unveiled in the new product showcase area. This year, more than 700 new product launches were scheduled, with new products accounting for 23.2% of the total lineup—a record high. The number of new product launches increased by 15% compared to previous years. New products in categories such as service robots, smart healthcare, and new energy saw growth rates of around 20%. The logic behind comparing prices among buyers is shifting from focusing on price differences to focusing on reliability. It’s important for buyers to be able to test these products on-site before deciding whether to place an order.
common problems
1. The electronic declaration process for US postal parcels has been postponed. Can the package still be sent using the original method?
Yes. During the delay period, the tariffs and other regulatory requirements for related goods remain unchanged. However, the mandatory submission deadline for Entry Type 13 electronic declarations has been postponed from October 22, 2026, to January 20, 2027. It is recommended that the necessary preparations be completed before December, so as to avoid overlapping with the busy Christmas shipping season.
2. Does the nationwide promotion of return policies across different regions have anything to do with me?
It seems that your model involves businesses that engage in 1210 online shopping with bonded imports (including goods stored in overseas warehouses, which are then re-sold to domestic e-commerce platforms). These businesses are directly affected by this initiative. However, factories that only engage in exports and do not use bonded imports are not currently covered by this initiative. Feedback can be submitted until October 25th on the General Administration of Customs of China official website.customs.gov.cn）。
3. Can I still restore the ability to cancel shipping subsidies on SHEIN?
Yes. The assessment is conducted monthly. As long as the DSR score remains above 4 stars, and the number of orders placed within 90 days exceeds 30, then the qualification will be restored once the assessment is passed at the beginning of the next month. The assessment focuses on three aspects: delivery time, consistency of product descriptions, and customer service response. These factors can lead to deductions from the score.
For factories that engage in cross-border e-commerce and foreign trade, these three schedules in late October are crucial: the deadline for submitting opinions is October 25th; the new assessment for SHEIN will take place in mid-to-late October. The deadline for electronic product declarations in the United States is January 20th, 2027. By arranging these dates in reverse order based on their effective dates, it becomes easier to maintain a consistent supply chain. This approach is more effective than sorting the schedules according to policy importance.
Qihang Zhilian Foreign Trade Research Institute
