Guangzhou Customs Releases 12 Facilitation Measures for Canton Fair 2026
On October 9, Guangzhou Customs announced 12 measures to speed up Canton Fair 2026 clearance: on-site exhibit inspection, food and cosmetics entry support, tax benefits for retained exhibits, and simplified export batch inspection. Here's what exhibitors and buyers should know.
Key takeaway
Guangzhou Customs announced 12 facilitation measures for the 140th Canton Fair at a press conference on October 9, 2026. New this year: on-site exhibit inspection at the Pazhou complex and support for agricultural and food exports. Other measures cover faster exhibit/person clearance, stationed customs officers, food and cosmetics entry for display, tax benefits for retained exhibits, simplified duty-free refund verification, an export batch inspection pilot, and a fair clearance guide covering 8 areas. The first exhibit batch cleared at Nansha Port on September 27; ten batches had entered by October 9.
Full report
Guangzhou Customs Speeds Up Canton Fair 2026
On October 9, 2026, Guangzhou Customs held a press conference and released 12 facilitation measures for the 140th China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair), which runs October 15 – November 4 in Guangzhou. The measures target faster clearance for exhibits and people, and include two new items this year: on-site exhibit inspection and support for agricultural and food exports.
The 12 Measures: What Matters
For exhibitors and buyers, the key points are:
- On-site exhibit inspection (new). Customs inspection is built into the process as exhibits arrive and are set up at the Pazhou complex, so clearance and booth setup happen together instead of in sequence.
- Faster clearance for exhibits and people. Dedicated channels and staffing support for exhibitors, visitors and exhibit shipments at entry ports.
- On-site customs presence. Customs officers stationed at the venue to answer questions and handle procedures during the fair.
- Food and cosmetics for exhibition. Support for imported food and cosmetics entering for display, with clear conditions.
- Tax benefits for retained exhibits. Exhibits sold or retained after the fair can use the applicable tax treatment — worth checking with your logistics agent before you ship.
- Simpler duty-free refund verification. Faster verification for the departure duty-free refund (tax rebate) process for goods bought in China.
- Export batch inspection pilot. A reform pilot allowing batch inspection for exports, reducing repeated checks for qualified companies.
- Agricultural and food exports (new). Qualified export companies and farms can use a recommendation from the agriculture department to waive the on-site customs assessment in some cases.
What Has Already Moved Through
The first batch of exhibits for this year's fair cleared at Guangzhou Nansha Port on September 27. By October 9, ten batches of exhibits had entered through Nansha Port and Guangzhou Baiyun Airport, with more expected in the following days.
The Clearance Guide (Tongguan Xuzhi)
Guangzhou Customs also published the 2026 fair clearance guide, covering eight areas:
- Canton Fair registration and filing
- Exhibit approval and admission rules
- Declaration of inbound materials
- Exhibit inspection and release
- Supervision during the fair
- Exhibit disposal after the fair
- Supervision of personnel and personal items
- Press equipment for journalists
Exhibitors and agents should review these before shipment — most delays come from paperwork, not the inspection itself.
What Buyers Should Note
- Personal items and samples: goods you bring for display or samples have entry rules; declare what needs declaring at the port.
- Tax refunds on purchases: the duty-free refund process for goods bought in China is being simplified this year — keep your invoices and the refund forms from the shop.
- On-site help: with customs officers stationed at the venue, questions about temporary import and re-export can be answered on the spot.
For the practical side of your trip — visas, payments and getting around — start with the Canton Fair visitor guide and the 240-hour transit rules. Plan your fair days and free days together — ChinaPie's trip planner builds the itinerary and budget in minutes.
What to do next
If you are exhibiting: review the clearance guide before shipping, confirm on-site inspection timing with your logistics agent, and keep tax documents for retained exhibits. If you are a buyer: declare display samples at the port, keep invoices for duty-free refunds, and ask stationed customs officers on-site. Plan visa and transit before flying (see Canton Fair visitor guide and 240-hour transit rules); use ChinaPie's trip planner (/plan/) to combine fair days and free days.
What may vary
Measure details and eligibility depend on the official implementation notices; tax treatment of retained exhibits varies by category and value; batch inspection pilot applies to qualified companies; port procedures can be adjusted during the fair.