Which country has the higher VAT rate, China or Saudi Arabia?

China: 13% / 9% / 6%. Saudi Arabia: 15%.

What's the de minimis import threshold for each?

China: USD 21. Saudi Arabia: USD 267.

Who is the customs authority in each country?

China: General Administration of Customs of China (GACC). Saudi Arabia: Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA).

Which categories are restricted in each?

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). Saudi Arabia restricts: Medicines and pharmaceuticals (SFDA approval required); Food and beverages (SFDA registration required; halal certification often needed); Firearms and weapons (Ministry of Interior permit required); Chemicals and hazardous materials; Certain media, publications, and electronic content; Gambling equipment.

🇨🇳 China vs 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia

Side-by-side customs reference: duty-free allowance, de minimis, VAT, restricted and prohibited categories, and customs authority.

	🇨🇳 China	🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
Customs authority	General Administration of Customs of China (GACC)	Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA)
VAT / GST	13% / 9% / 6%	15%
De minimis (USD)	USD 21	USD 267
Cash declaration (USD)	USD 5000	USD 16000
Duty-free alcohol (L)	1.5	0
Duty-free cigarettes	400	400
Duty-free personal goods (USD)	USD 730	USD 267
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	Alcohol and products containing alcohol; Pork products and non-halal foods; Drugs and narcotics; Obscene and pornographic materials; Material deemed contrary to Islamic principles
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	Medicines and pharmaceuticals (SFDA approval required); Food and beverages (SFDA registration required; halal certification often needed); Firearms and weapons (Ministry of Interior permit required); Chemicals and hazardous materials; Certain media, publications, and electronic content
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).	Fake Hajj / Umrah visa brokers charging inflated fees. Only use MoFA-accredited agents or the official visa.visitsaudi.com portal.

Detailed pages: China • Saudi Arabia

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