Directory_and_Chronicle_1919 — Page 154

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TRADE REGULATIONS BETWEEN RUSSIA AND CHINA

transit dues (ie., half of the tariff duty) according to the general provisions laid down for foreign trade.

Art. X.-Chinese goods sent from Tientsin to Russia by Russian merchants must be forwarded to Kalgan by the route indicated under Art. III. The entire export duty will be levied on these goods when they leave the country. Nevertheless, re-imported goods bought at Tientsin, as well as those bought in another port and forwarded in transitu to Tientsin to be exported to Russia, if accompanied by a Customs receipt for the export duty, shall not pay a second time, and the half re-importation duty (coasting duty) paid at Tientsin will be repaid to the merchant if the goods upon which it has been paid are exported to Russia a year from the time of such payment. For the transport of goods in Russia the Russian Consul will issue a permit indicating in the Russian and Chinese languages the name of the owner of the goods, the number of packages, and the nature of the goods they contain. These permits will be viséd by the Port Customs authorities, and must accompany the goods for production when they are examined at the Custom-houses on the road. The rules given in detail in Article III. will be observed as to the term within which the permit is to be presented to the Custom-house to be cancelled, and as to the proceedings in case of the permit being lost. Goods will follow the route indicated by Article III., and are not to be sold on the road; a breach of this rule will render the merchant liable to the penalties provided for under Article VIII. Goods will be examined at the Custom-houses on the road in accordance with the rules laid down under Article III. Chinese goods bought by Russian merchants at Sou-tcheou (Tsia-yu-kwan), or brought by them from the internal markets to be forwarded to Russia, on leaving Sou-tcheou for Russia, will have to pay the duty leviable upon goods exported from Tientsin, and will be subject to the regulations established for that port.

Art. XI.-Goods bought at Toun-tcheou, on leaving that place for Russia by land, will have to pay the full export duty laid down by the tariff. Goods bought at Kalgan will pay in that town, on leaving for Russia, a duty equivalent to half the tariff rate. Goods bought by Russian merchants in the internal markets, and brought to Toun-tcheou and Kalgan to be forwarded to Russia, will, moreover, be subject to transit dues, according to the general rules established for foreign trade in the internal markets. The local Custom-houses of the aforesaid towns after levying the duties will give the merchant a transport permit for the goods. For goods leaving Toun-tcheou this permit will be issued by the Dounba Customs authorities, to whom application is to be made for it, accompanied by payment of the duties to which the goods are liable. The permit will mention the prohibition to sell goods on the road. The rules given in detail in Article III. relative to permits, the examination of goods, etc., will apply in like manner to goods exported from the places mentioned in this Article.

Art. XII.-Goods of foreign origin sent to Russia by land from Tientsin, Toun- tcheou, Kalgan, and Sou-tcheou (Tsia-yu-kwan) will pay no duty if the merchant produces a Customs receipt acknowledging payment of the import and transit duties on those goods. If they have only paid entrance duties the competent Custom-house will call upon the merchant for the payment of the transit dues fixed by the tariff.

Art. XIII-Goods imported into China by Russian merchants, or exported by tbem, will pay Custom duties according to the general tariff for foreign trade with China, and according to the additional tariff drawn up for Russian trade in 1862.

Goods not enumerated in either of those tariffs will be subject to a 5 per cent. ad valorem duty.

Art. XIV. The following articles will be admitted free of export and import duty-Gold and silver ingots, foreign coins, flour of all kinds, sago, biscuits, preserved meats and vegetables, cheese, butter, confectionery, foreign clothes, jewellery and silver plate, perfumery and soaps of all kinds, charcoal, firewood, handles of foreign manufacture, foreign tobacco and cigars, wine, beer, spirits, household stores and utensils to be used in houses and on board ship, travellers' luggage, official stationery, tapestries, cutlery, foreign medicines, glassware, and