On May 2, 2026, the RCEP Secretariat announced the launch of the second phase of digital rules of origin implementation, requiring member countries' exporting companies to complete the deep integration of the e-CO electronic certificate of origin system with the real-time tariff calculator on their official websites starting July 1, 2026. This adjustment directly affects highly sensitive categories of goods exported from China to Japan and South Korea, such as machinery parts, automotive electronics, and food additives. Related companies need to pay attention to changes in system integration, customs clearance efficiency, and compliance costs.

Event Overview

On May 2, 2026, the RCEP Secretariat officially announced the launch of the second phase of digital rules of origin implementation. According to the announcement, starting July 1, 2026, the official websites of exporting companies in member countries must integrate the e-CO (electronic certificate of origin) system with a real-time tariff calculator: after the user enters the country of destination, HS code, and value of goods, the system automatically retrieves the RCEP agreement tariff rates and generates a downloadable e-CO pre-approval code. This requirement applies to the official websites of Chinese exporting companies targeting the Japanese and South Korean markets and is a mandatory technical compliance action.

Which sub-sectors will be affected?

Direct trading enterprises

For foreign trade companies primarily engaged in self-operated exports of machinery parts, automotive electronics, and food additives, their official websites will bear the initial responsibility for technology implementation. The impact will be reflected in: the need for new module development and interface debugging on the website; the e-CO pre-approval code becoming a necessary condition for importers' customs clearance; and failure to meet the standards potentially leading to a decrease in the conversion rate of inquiries from Japanese and Korean customers or delayed order confirmations.

Processing and manufacturing enterprises

Although they do not directly operate export websites, if they are brand owners or OEM suppliers, they are often required to provide supporting services that comply with the RCEP digital rules of origin requirements. The impact is reflected in: the need to collaborate with exporters to verify the accuracy of HS code classification; and some companies may be required to provide standardized product data packages (including HS, composition, and process specifications) to support the logic of the tariff calculator.

Supply chain service companies

This includes customs brokers, certificate of origin agencies, and cross-border SaaS service providers. The impact is reflected in: the existing paper-based or semi-automated e-CO application process will need to be restructured; adaptation to new interface standards and verification of compatibility with customs systems in various countries are required; and the ability to digitally respond to Japan and South Korea dedicated line services will become a key criterion for customer selection.

What key areas should relevant enterprises or practitioners focus on, and how should they respond at present?

Pay attention to the release time of the subsequent implementation rules by the RCEP Secretariat and the competent authorities of China, Japan and South Korea.

Currently, only the start date is confirmed as July 1, 2026, but operational details such as the HS code mapping table, API interface specifications, pre-approval code validity period, and exception handling mechanisms have not yet been disclosed. Enterprises should continuously monitor announcements on the official websites of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), and the Korea Customs Service (KCS) to avoid system rework due to outdated standards.

We need to compile a list of the top ten HS codes for products exported to Japan and South Korea and prioritize the completion of classification and verification.

The tariff calculator relies on accurate HS codes to access RCEP tariff rates. Analysis shows that categories such as machinery parts, automotive electronics, and food additives exhibit a high incidence of subheading classification disputes. It is recommended that customs brokers with RCEP origin qualifications lead cross-verification against the 2026 Harmonized System and the latest annotations from the three countries.

Distinguish between policy signals and the actual pace of business implementation; there is no rush to completely overhaul the website architecture.

From an industry perspective, this requirement is a "mandatory feature launch" rather than a "mandatory full-scale adoption." Initially, a transition period with parallel operation is permitted (e.g., a dual-track system of manual review and pre-review). Enterprises can first implement basic integration using lightweight methods (e.g., embedded iframes, independent H5 pages), and then initiate CMS-level integration after the official technical documentation is released.

Advance communication with major Japanese and Korean importers regarding the feature launch plan and pre-approval code usage guidelines

For Japanese and South Korean importers, Chinese suppliers offering this feature mean shorter customs clearance times and lower compliance trial-and-error costs. More importantly, some Japanese and South Korean buyers have already included "support for real-time e-CO pre-screening" in their new supplier onboarding evaluation criteria. It is recommended to share internal preparation progress with key clients by the end of June, and provide testing links and operating instructions.

Editor's Viewpoint / Industry Observation

Observably, this upgrade is not merely a technical optimization, but a crucial step for the RCEP digital rules of origin to move from "optional convenience" to "mandatory infrastructure." Analysis shows it's more like a policy signal for phased implementation—July 2026 is the launch date for system capabilities, not the date when customs clearance results will be forcibly linked; true customs clearance effectiveness still requires the completion of the background rule configuration and data mutual recognition by the customs authorities of the three countries. The industry needs to continue to monitor whether the e-CO pre-verification code will serve as a prerequisite for RCEP tariff preferences starting in 2027; and whether this mechanism will be extended to other RCEP member markets such as ASEAN and Australia/New Zealand.

Conclusion:
This upgrade of the RCEP digital rules of origin marks a significant step forward in the practical implementation of digital trade collaboration among China, Japan, and South Korea. Its industry significance lies not in the immediate change of tax rates, but in restructuring the granularity of export compliance responses and the interface of responsibility. Currently, it is more accurately understood as a "capability-ready" requirement—companies do not need to achieve 100% automation immediately, but must possess verifiable, interactive, and traceable digital rules of origin service capabilities within a specified timeframe.

Information source explanation:
Main source: RCEP Secretariat’s announcement on the implementation of the second phase of digital rules of origin, dated May 2, 2026.
The following section requires continued observation: the release time and content of supporting documents from the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), and the Korea Customs Service (KCS) regarding API interface specifications, HS mapping details, and transitional arrangements.