The Ice and Snow Economy is Booming—Are Foreign Trade Professionals Ready?

In November 2024, the General Office of the State Council issued the "Several Opinions on Stimulating the Vitality of the Ice and Snow Economy Through High-Quality Development of Ice and Snow Sports," marking the official entry of China's ice and snow industry into a golden period of development. As a seasoned veteran with 20 years of experience in the foreign trade sector, I have personally witnessed the export volume of skiing equipment grow from "small-scale operations" to today's "explosive surge." Today, let's talk about how this "cold resource" has transformed into a "hot business" for foreign trade professionals.

Skiing Equipment: More Than Just Skis and Poles

Many newcomers to the industry think skiing equipment is just a few boards and a couple of poles, but the variety is far more extensive than imagined:

• Venue equipment "heavy weapons":Ropeway cable cars and snow groomers—these "big guys" can easily cost millions.
• Personal Equipment "Light Cavalry":From basic ski suits to high-tech goggles, there are dozens of categories
• Training equipment "black technology":New products like indoor ski simulators are growing rapidly

Classification of Customs: Don't let the tax ID become your "skiing obstacle."

Last year, a client almost had their goods detained by customs because they misclassified ski boots as regular boots. Remembering these key tariff codes is like remembering the markers on a ski slope:

• 6112.20:The "ID card" of knitted ski suits
• 6403.1200:The "exclusive passage" for genuine leather ski boots.
• 9506.1100:The "pass" for a snowboard

Special Reminder: Emerging products like indoor ski simulators should be classified under 9506.9990. Last year, some companies had orders rejected and lost over 100,000 in shipping costs.

Export Customs Clearance: Avoid These "Snow Road Traps"

A case we handled for a client last month is quite representative:

• Licensing Documents:Snowmaking machines and other electromechanical products require export licenses
• Customs Declaration Materials:Be sure to prepare product manuals (especially for equipment containing lithium batteries)
• Inspection Focus:Customs has recently been strictly checking safety certifications for ski protective gear

It is recommended to prepare the customs clearance materials two weeks in advance, rather than waiting until the last minute to "slam on the brakes."

Tax Refund Benefits: Don't Miss Out on This "Winter Subsidy"

Ski equipment exports can enjoy a 13% VAT refund, but note:

• The product name on the customs declaration must exactly match the invoice
• The tax refund application period has been shortened from 4 months to 3 months
• Starting in 2024, the new electronic tax refund system improves efficiency by 50%

The "Difficulty Rating of Ski Trails" in the international market.

Based on our experience with 200+ ski equipment export cases, the characteristics of each market are as follows:

• European Market (Black Run):CE certification is the foundation, and GS certification is the steep "slope" to overcome.
• North American Market (Blue Run):FCC certification and ASTM standards are "mandatory courses."
• Japanese and Korean Markets (Red Run):The JIS and KC certification requirements are as challenging as an "obstacle course."

Three "Anti-Fall Tips" for Foreign Trade Beginners

1. Hire professional testing agencies for pre-inspection (our partner SGS helps clients save 20% on certification time each time)
2. Purchase intellectual property insurance (last year a client was sued for $500,000 due to design infringement)
3. Pay attention to RCEP policies (tariffs on ski apparel exported to ASEAN have been reduced to 5%)

The spring of the ice and snow economy has arrived, but to glide swiftly and steadily on this track, mastering professional "skiing techniques" is essential. We hope this guide can serve as your "best ski pole" for exploring the international market. Should you need more professional customs clearance solutions, feel free to reach out anytime!