Certification Is the First Hurdle for China Exports, KOTRA Shenzhen Says

KOTRA’s Shenzhen office held consultations with Korean small and mid-sized companies during the World Korean Business Convention in Shenzhen. The concerns raised most often were export certification and sales channels. Here are the checkpoints that came up on site.

By FOCUS BUSINESS editorial staff

Certification topped the list of concerns

KOTRA’s Shenzhen office handled company consultations at the 30th World Korean Business Convention and 2026 Korea Business Expo Shenzhen, which began on Oct. 9. According to deputy head Yoon Bo-ra, questions about certification procedures and rules alone numbered in the dozens at this event.

Products covered by China Compulsory Certification (CCC) must be certified before they are sold in China. Where test results are needed, a report from a laboratory holding China Metrology Accreditation (CMA) status may be required. Rules differ by product and change often, which makes it hard for small companies to cope on their own.

Tariffs and distribution also need checking

Even with the Korea–China FTA in place, tariff rates differ by product. Companies need the correct HS code and rate to work out a retail price after import, and a new product does not automatically mean a 0% tariff. Distribution is shifting too: small regional offline stores are declining while hypermarkets and franchise convenience chains gain influence.

Sam’s Club, the Walmart-affiliated membership warehouse chain, is expanding its store count quickly. Because it buys goods outright, suppliers can deliver large volumes at once. KOTRA is linking Sam’s Club merchandisers with Korean firms and reports results in areas such as frozen food.

For K-beauty, registration is the key

Cosmetics require product-by-product registration and approval, and color cosmetics may need separate procedures for each shade. Cross-border e-commerce carries a lighter regulatory burden, but per-consumer purchase limits make large-scale sales difficult. KOTRA is preparing a program to connect Korean cosmetics firms with the Chinese beauty retail chain WOW COLOUR and plans a pop-up store there as early as next month.

Business Checkpoints

Companies preparing to export to China should check, already at the product planning stage, whether the product needs certification, its HS code and tariff rate, and the retail channel it will enter. Certification and registration take time, so launch schedules should allow for it. Because rules change often, confirm current requirements with a KOTRA office or a local specialist before applying.

※ This article is based on a Hankyung (Korea Economic Daily) report dated 2026-10-10.