Country：泰国 · Trade, Supply Chain & Exit
Thailand · Trade, Supply Chain & Exit
Thailand sits at the center of ASEAN with dual RCEP and ASEAN membership; the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) is a key manufacturing and export area. China-Thailand economic-trade ties are close, with China as a major trading partner. Imports require customs declarations and duty payment; some goods involve specific taxes (SST-type). Exits can be via share transfer, deregistration, or liquidation. Note rules of origin and BOI export requirements.
Key points
- RCEP and ASEAN: zero or low tariffs among members; convenient transit trade.
- Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC): key manufacturing and export area, stackable with BOI incentives.
- Imports require declarations; some goods are subject to specific taxes.
- Exit routes: share transfer, deregistration, liquidation.
- China-Thailand economic-trade ties are close with high supply chain coordination.
- China home-country legal anchors (pkulaw verified 2026-07): overseas trade must comply with China's Foreign Trade Law (2025 revision, Presidential Order No. 67, effective 2025-12-27) — import/export business rights use a filing/recordal system; dual-use items and technology exports are subject to control lists and the unreliable entity list; trade with specific countries and regions must also satisfy China's export control and sanctions compliance.
Procedure
- Assess the supply chain and RCEP rules of origin.
- Customs clearance and duty compliance.
- Lay out the EEC or bonded zones (manufacturing exports).
- Fulfill BOI export and local content requirements.
- Plan share transfer or deregistration on exit.
Hard requirements
- Customs and VAT compliance; RCEP origin; BOI export requirements (promoted companies).
Costs
Duties; logistics; liquidation or deregistration fees.⏱ ⏱ Timeline：Trade can start immediately; exits take weeks to months.⚠ Common risks
- RCEP rules of origin unmet lose preferential treatment.
- BOI companies with unmet export or local content lose exemptions.
- Exit liquidation tax obligations.
Handbook
📘 Step-by-Step Handbook (with owner / timeline / cost / penalties)
Applies to：Chinese companies using Thailand as the ASEAN hub for manufacturing exports via RCEP/ASEAN mechanisms and the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), and exiting via share transfer, deregistration, or liquidation.
Prerequisites
- Chinese parent completed MOFCOM import/export business rights filing (see legal_review anchor).
- Thai entity established with import/export customs registration.
- BOI-promoted companies must meet export ratios and local content requirements.
| Step | Action | Owner | Timeline | Cost | Official form / system | Notes & penalties |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China-side filing and compliance screening. The parent completes MOFCOM filing; screen exported equipment/technology for dual-use items. | Trade compliance | Filing 1–2 weeks | Government fees per official published rates | MOFCOM filing system | Materials exports must meet compliance requirements. Penalty：Illegal exports are penalized by the home country. |
| 2 | Customs registration and HS codes. Complete import/export customs registration with Thai Customs, declare per HS codes, and pay duties. | Customs agent | Days to weeks | Duties (including some specific taxes) | Thai customs registration | Some goods are subject to specific taxes. Penalty：Without registration, customs declarations are impossible. |
| 3 | RCEP and ASEAN origin preferences. Use RCEP and ASEAN member zero or low tariff treatment and apply for the corresponding certificates of origin; if conditions are unmet, preferential duties are lost. | Trade compliance | Ongoing | Per official published information | Certificate of origin applications | Accumulation rules must be met. Penalty：Origin conditions unmet lose preferential duties. |
| 4 | Customs compliance and valuation. Classify, value, and pay duty per HS codes for compliant clearance. | Customs agent | Per shipment | Duties | Customs declaration | China-Thailand supply chain coordination is high. Penalty：Classification errors require additional tax. |
| 5 | Supply chain layout (EEC/bonded zones). Lay out manufacturing and export operations in the EEC and bonded zones; BOI companies must meet export ratios and local content requirements. | Supply chain/compliance | Ongoing | Operations and compliance costs | EEC/bonded-zone factory setup | BOI stackable incentives. Penalty：BOI companies with unmet export/local content lose exemptions. |
| 6 | Exit routes: share transfer, deregistration, or liquidation. Plan a share transfer or deregistration/liquidation after tax settlement. | Directors/liquidation committee | Weeks to months | Liquidation/deregistration fees | Deregistration/liquidation application | Tax settlement must be completed. Penalty：Unsettled taxes lead to accountability. |
✅ Self-check list
⚠ Common pitfalls
RCEP origin unmet影响：Lose preferences规避：Build genuine value-added evidence
BOI export/content unmet影响：Affects exemptions规避：Plan exports and local content
Exit without tax settlement影响：Accountability规避：Settle taxes before liquidation
Duty classification errors影响：Additional tax规避：Professional classification
Ignoring home-country export controls影响：Home-country penalties规避：Screen dual-use items before exporting
📅 Ongoing post-incorporation obligations
- Continuous customs declarations and clearance compliance
- BOI export and local content compliance (promoted companies)
- Deregistration filings and record retention after exit
🔗 Official portals
📎 Source：Thai Customs; BOI; EEC; RCEP; commercial registration deregistration; https://www.mofcom.gov.cn; https://www.customs.gov.cn
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