Question 1

Which country has the higher VAT rate, China or Italy?

Accepted Answer

China: 13% / 9% / 6%. Italy: 22%.

Question 2

What's the de minimis import threshold for each?

Accepted Answer

China: USD 21. Italy: USD 165.

Question 3

Who is the customs authority in each country?

Accepted Answer

China: General Administration of Customs of China (GACC). Italy: Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM — Customs and Monopolies Agency).

Question 4

Which categories are restricted in each?

Accepted Answer

China restricts: Food and agricultural products (GACC registration required for exporters; China Inspection and Quarantine — CIQ); Pharmaceuticals (NMPA (formerly CFDA) approval required); Firearms and weapons (Ministry of Public Security strict permits required); Certain chemicals and hazardous materials; Radioactive materials; Seeds and plant materials (phytosanitary certificate required). Italy restricts: Firearms and weapons (licence required under Italian Firearms Law); Medicines (AIFA — Italian Medicines Agency authorisation for commercial imports); Food products from outside EU (SPS checks by Italian border inspection posts); Cultural heritage goods (must be declared; export may require state authorisation under Cultural Heritage Code); Endangered species (CITES permit required); Plants and plant products from non-EU (phytosanitary certificate).

	🇨🇳 China	🇮🇹 Italy
Customs authority	General Administration of Customs of China (GACC)	Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM — Customs and Monopolies Agency)
VAT / GST	13% / 9% / 6%	22%
De minimis (USD)	USD 21	USD 165
Cash declaration (USD)	USD 5000	USD 11000
Duty-free alcohol (L)	1.5	4
Duty-free cigarettes	400	200
Duty-free personal goods (USD)	USD 730	USD 540
Prohibited categories	Narcotics and psychotropic substances; Publications, films, and materials deemed harmful to China's political or social stability; Gambling equipment; Counterfeit currency; Animal and plant species protected under CITES without permits	Narcotics and controlled substances; Counterfeit luxury goods (Italy is a major enforcer for fashion industry); Pornographic material involving minors; Endangered species products without permits; Weapons without permits
Restricted categories	Food and agricultural products (GACC registration required for exporters; China Inspection and Quarantine — CIQ); Pharmaceuticals (NMPA (formerly CFDA) approval required); Firearms and weapons (Ministry of Public Security strict permits required); Certain chemicals and hazardous materials; Radioactive materials	Firearms and weapons (licence required under Italian Firearms Law); Medicines (AIFA — Italian Medicines Agency authorisation for commercial imports); Food products from outside EU (SPS checks by Italian border inspection posts); Cultural heritage goods (must be declared; export may require state authorisation under Cultural Heritage Code); Endangered species (CITES permit required)
Known scams	Fake Chinese visa / invitation-letter services demanding high fees. Use only the embassy / consulate in your home country or authorised Chinese Visa Application Service Centers (CVASC).	Counterfeit-goods sellers near Rome / Milan tourist sites: Italian Guardia di Finanza fines buyers as well as sellers for counterfeit purchases (up to EUR 10,000 civilian penalty).

🇨🇳 China vs 🇮🇹 Italy