FORM V (China-Vietnam) is a preferential certificate of origin issued between China and Vietnam under the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Cooperation between China and ASEAN and its related agreements. Its full name is 'China-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement Certificate of Origin'. It is used to prove that goods exported from China to Vietnam originate in China, thereby enjoying the agreement tariff rate (usually lower than the MFN rate, and some products even zero tariff) upon import into Vietnam. Usage scenario: When a Chinese exporter exports goods to a Vietnamese customer, if the Vietnamese importer is to enjoy tariff preferences, the exporter needs to apply to China Customs or CCPIT for FORM V, accompanied by commercial invoice, packing list, and other documents. Precautions: The certificate must be issued before or at the time of export, and its contents must be consistent with the bill of lading and invoice; Vietnamese customs may verify the authenticity of the certificate, so it must be applied through official channels. Difference from other terms: FORM E is the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area Certificate of Origin, applicable to the ten ASEAN countries, while FORM V is specifically for China-Vietnam and is a refined version of FORM E; moreover, FORM V is only applicable to China-Vietnam bilateral trade and cannot be used for other ASEAN countries. Foreign trade practitioners should ensure that products comply with the rules of origin to avoid loss of tariff preferences due to non-compliant certificates.
📝 Examples
1. Our company exported a batch of mechanical equipment to a Vietnamese customer and applied for a FORM V certificate of origin. With this certificate, the customer enjoyed a 5% agreement tariff rate upon customs clearance in Vietnam, saving 3% in tariff costs compared to the MFN rate. (Note: FORM V is used for China-Vietnam trade to help Vietnamese importers obtain tariff preferences.)
2. Because the product name on the FORM V certificate was inconsistent with the bill of lading, Vietnamese customs refused to grant tariff preferences, causing the customer to pay an additional 10% import tariff, and we had to reapply and modify the certificate. (Note: FORM V must be strictly consistent with all trade documents, otherwise the preference becomes invalid.)
💡 Foreign Trade Tips
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