HCM City (VNA) – The Ho ChiMinh City Customs Department has collected more than 109 trillion VND (4.8billion USD) in export-import duty revenues in 2017, translating to an increaseof 7.75 percent compared to 2016.

A report at the meeting held in the city onJanuary 17 to review the department’s performance last year and deploy tasksfor this year said the department had retrieved tax debts of 1.115 trillion VND,reaching 118.8 percent of target and up 326 percent over 2016.

In the fight against smuggling and tradefraud, the department has dealt with 1,598 violations, an increase of 6.3 percentover the preceding year.

This year, the department has been assignedto collect 108 trillion VND for the State budget. The department said it wasdetermined to meet or surpass the target despite the challenge.

Nguyen Xuan Binh, head of the department’sCustoms Control and Supervision Division, said the target was lower than lastyear, but it was still a tall order.

Under free-trade agreements that have comeinto effect, most tariff lines have fallen to zero. For instance, car importsfrom ASEAN countries will enjoy zero tariff this year. Therefore, collectionsfrom import tax will fall, he said.

The volume of petrol imported through portsin HCM City has fallen, he said, adding that budget collection from petrol,iron and steel and fertilises had also gone down year after year.

In addition, import tariff on auto partswill be also disappear if they meet conditions set by the Government.

Speaking at the meeting, Vu Thi Mai, DeputyMinister of Finance, praised efforts made by the department in the past year andsuggested it map out measures now so it can accomplish or surpass the assignedtarget.

The measures aim to combat smuggling andtrade fraud, enhance inspection after customs’ clearance, retrieve tax debtsand others, she said.

She also asked the department to enhanceadministrative reform, modernise customs activities and use automated systemsfor seaport and airport customs supervision and management.

Tran Vinh Tuyen, vice chairman of the HCMCity People’s Committee, said the city would organise more dialogues betweenbusinesses and the customs sector to solve difficulties faced by enterprises.

In addition, the city would work to create morefavourable conditions for import-export activities via ports in the city, hesaid. - VNA