Goods Carried by Visitors Returning to Taiwan from the Mainland to Be Duty Free If Not in Excess of NT$10,000
Following the legalization in November of visits by Taiwan residents to relatives living on the mainland, the Ministry of Finance has made several decisions regarding currency, insurance, and customs questions.
Unused Chinese Communist currency and foreign exchange coupons may not be carried through customs or they will be confiscated. Souvenirs of all types will be permitted to be brought in provided they have been checked and approved by customs in accordance with the Table of Limitations currently ratified by the Ministry of Finance. As to insurance, provided all registration documents are in order, insurance companies in the ROC can provide reasonable compensation to victims traveling on the mainland.
The Table of Limitations on Small Quantities of Mainland Products Brought into the Country for Personal Use announced by the Ministry of Finance is directed at commonly seen daily articles brought in for the personal use of the travelers themselves or their families. Mainland products not listed in the table shall be treated in accordance with the limitations for similar products that are listed. Mainland products carried by returning travelers will fall under three categories for customs purposes:
1) If the products conform to the regulations of the Table of Limitations in items and quantity and do not exceed NT$10,000 in total value, then they will not be subject to duty. One bottle of liquor and 200 cigarettes (one carton) may be brought in.
2) Any portion of products in excess of NT$10,000 but less than US$1,500 in value may be carried through customs after payment of applicable duties in accordance with the applicable regulations.
3) Any portion of products exceeding US$1,500 in value shall be confiscated unless, first, the traveler is a citizen of the ROC and has applied for and received approval to have them returned or, second, the traveler is a citizen of a foreign country or an overseas Chinese, in which case the excess portion shall be deposited in bonded baggage at customs until the traveler leaves the country.
Air Mail Postage to the U.S. and Canada Lowered Effective November 6th
The Directorate General of Posts in the Ministry of Communications has announced that air mail postal rates to the United States and Canada will be lowered by an average of 12.5 percent beginning November 6th. Other international postal rates will not change.
Postage will be lowered from NT$18 to NT$16 for each piece of mail sent to the U.S. and Canada weighing under 10 grams and from NT$14 to NT$13 for each 10 grams in excess. The postage for postcards will be lowered from NT$12 to NT$11.