GB standards, or Guobiao standards, are Chinese National Standards formulated by the standardization administration under the State Council, covering products, services, safety, and environmental protection, with mandatory or recommended effect within China. In foreign trade, GB standards are often used for import compliance, domestic procurement, technical specifications, customs declaration and inspection, and contract quality clauses. If goods are sold in the Chinese market, they must comply with relevant mandatory GB standards; for exports, if the importing country has no special requirements, GB standards may be referenced, but destination standards (such as CE, UL, JIS) usually must be met. Unlike ISO standards, GB standards are unique to China, and some are aligned with ISO but still differ. Note: GB standards are divided into mandatory (GB) and recommended (GB/T); contracts should specify the standard number and version year to avoid disputes caused by version updates.
📝 Examples
1. All electronic components under this contract shall comply with GB/T 2423.1-2008 Environmental Testing for Electric and Electronic Products, and a third-party test report shall be provided. (Note: This explicitly cites a recommended GB/T standard in a procurement contract as the basis for quality acceptance.)
2. Children's toys imported into China must pass certification under GB 6675-2014 Toy Safety Standards; otherwise, they cannot clear customs. (Note: This emphasizes the market access requirements of mandatory GB standards for imported goods.)
💡 Foreign Trade Tips
Foreign trade terms are the foundation of international business communication
Trade practices may vary slightly by country; pay attention when using them
When using terms in contracts, specify the applicable version (e.g., Incoterms 2020)
For unfamiliar terms, use GlobalSync's multilingual email helper to confirm with your partner