The suction excavator from the German RSP GmbH company attracts attention during the second China International Import Expo. [Photo/shanghai.gov.cn]

Over 300 firms have applied to attend the third China International Import Expo (CIIE), the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said on Dec 26. Preparations for the third expo are progressing in an orderly manner as the spillover effects of the second expo are emerging.

A suction excavator made by the German RSP GmbH company attracted a lot of attention during the second expo and was sold to a Chinese buyer within two months after the expo.

In August this year, the suction excavator declared entry through temporary entry and exit supervision and followed single-vehicle certification.

Single-vehicle certification is mainly applicable to vehicles imported for special purposes such as disaster rescues, emergency command, sports competitions, road tests and national key production and construction projects. Suction excavators are rare in quantity and expensive, and they often cannot obtain China Compulsory Certification (CCC).

To meet China's demand for such special vehicles, the Chinese Certification and Accreditation Administration launched the single-vehicle certification mode in 2017, and applied for CCC certificates for these vehicles.

Additionally, according to related policy, it is allowed to carry out bonded storage and display of imported automobiles in the comprehensive bonded zone of the finished automobile import port.

Du Haihua, deputy commissioner of Longwu customs, said that the bonded storage of imported automobiles for domestic sales is expected to form an agglomeration effect in the Comprehensive Free Trade Zone in Shanghai.

Six more Alfa Romeo cars from Italy, which attended an exhibition in Guangzhou, will also be transported to Shanghai, Du added.