India-Thailand EHS Certificate Registration - Process, Fees & Documents

The India-Thailand Early Harvest Scheme (EHS) is a trade agreement that aims to strengthen trade relations between India and Thailand. India-Thailand Early Harvest Scheme (EHS), signed in October 2003 and operative from October 2004, was the first bilateral trade facilitation step between India and Thailand. It serves as a framework for reducing taxes and promoting smoother trade between the two countries. This scheme allows chosen products to enter duty-free or at lower tax rates. This helps businesses in India and Thailand trade specific goods more easily.

To take advantage of the tax benefits under the India-Thailand Early Harvest Scheme (EHS) exporters must obtain the India-Thailand EHS Certificate. This certificate is important for companies that export ITEHS eligible products. It helps them get tax reductions when their goods arrive in the importing country. The EHS covers approximately 82 tariff lines spanning agricultural products, chemicals, machinery, electronics, textiles, and metals. For each of these product categories, customs duties have been reduced or eliminated, providing Indian exporters with a meaningful cost advantage in the Thai market. This document offers Indian businesses new opportunities in the Thai market. It lowers costs and helps them reach more customers.

Companies involved in international trade should understand the advantages offered by the India-Thailand Early Harvest Scheme. These include improved trade opportunities, lower costs for sourcing materials, and stronger economic partnerships between the two nations. Exporters must apply to the right trade authority to access these benefits. They also need to show that their product meets the origin rules set by the agreement.

Below is the detailed explanation on how to apply for India-Thailand Early Harvest Scheme. By following the right steps, companies can ensure smooth trade operations and take advantage of the benefits offered by the India-Thailand Free Trade Agreement.

The following documents are required for obtaining the Early Harvest Scheme (EHS) Certificate under the India-Thailand Trade Agreement:

Total cost for ITEHS registration is ₹3,860 per application, including government fees, professional fees and GST. Eligible exporters can go through the detailed fee structure:

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The India-Thailand Early Harvest Scheme (EHS) Certificate is an important certificate that allows the exporters and importers to get the benefit of lower tax in trading between India and Thailand. It can be used to provide evidence that the traded goods are compliant with the rules of origin in the free trade agreement. While Thailand is also covered under the broader India-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (AIFTA), the India-Thailand EHS provides specific tariff concessions on its ~82 product categories that may differ from AIFTA rates. Exporters should compare ITEHS and AIFTA duty rates for their specific HS code to determine which agreement offers the most favourable terms.

By obtaining this certification, companies are privileged to benefit from the Early Harvest Scheme agreement and get to enjoy the duty-free exports of products between India and Thailand. The EHS Certificate enables trade ease and is an additional tool to improve the trading partnership between India and Thailand while making it efficient to meet the trading regulations of both the countries incorporated in the bilateral import-export agreement of India and Thailand.

To qualify for preferential tariff treatment under the EHS, goods must satisfy one of the following origin criteria:

• Wholly Obtained: Goods entirely grown, harvested, extracted, or manufactured in India qualify directly
• Sufficiently Transformed: For goods using imported inputs, the product must have undergone sufficient processing in India typically a change in tariff classification at the 4-digit HS level OR a minimum Domestic Value Addition, as specified in the product-specific ROO for each of the ~82 EHS tariff lines

Note: Exporters should verify the ROO applicable to their specific HS code against the ITEHS Product-Specific Rules Schedule.

The India-Thailand Early Harvest Scheme (EHS) Certificate offers several benefits for businesses and exporters looking to trade between the two countries. Here are the key advantages:

• Tariff Reduction Benefits - The EHS Certificate for Export opens up a way of tax reduction under the India-Thailand EHS, making Indian products cheaper, which effectively increases the chances of bilateral trade in Thailand.
• Enhanced Trade Opportunities - The Early Harvest Scheme trade advantages enable exporters to have comparatively easier access to the Thai market, as well as facilitate trading without many restrictions under the India-Thailand import-export rules.
• Cost Savings for Exporters - Businesses will be able to take advantage of the lower overall cost of the specifically eligible items and increase their profits, which will also improve both nations’ economic growth.
• Streamlined Customs Clearance - The EHS Certificate for Export was declared to have eased the regulations for export and import, doubling its efficiency and minimizing the time taken by India and Thailand to clear the import-export goods.
• Competitive Market Edge - By reducing tariffs under the India-Thailand EHS, the prices of Indian goods become more competitive than the Thailand counterparts for Thai consumers and help to develop long-term business relations.

The India-Thailand Early Harvest Scheme (EHS) covers a range of products across different sectors. Some of the major industries benefiting from the scheme include:

• Agriculture (Fruits, Vegetables, Processed Food) - Under the India-Thailand trade agreement, agricultural products enjoy duty exemption for Indian exporters, enhancing bilateral trade in fruits, vegetables, and processed foods.
• Automobile Components - India’s export incentives under the EHS promote free trade policies in India, making automobile components more competitive in ASEAN trade agreements.
• Textiles and Garments - The EHS benefits India's textile exports, ensuring reduced tariffs through trade agreements and certifications, and strengthening trade ties between India and Thailand.
• Electronics & Machinery - The agreement fosters bilateral trade in electronics and machinery, aligning with India’s free trade policies and broader ASEAN trade agreements.
• Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals - The EHS supports duty exemption for Indian exporters, encouraging seamless trade in chemicals and pharmaceuticals under India-Thailand and ASEAN trade agreements.

Navigating trade agreements and certifications can be complex. Professional Utilities provides expert assistance in:

• EHS Certificate Application & Approval - End-to-end support for obtaining and securing approval for your Early Harvest Scheme (EHS) certification.
• Trade Compliance Advisory - Expert guidance to ensure your business fully complies with international trade regulations and bilateral agreements.
• Export-Import Documentation - Comprehensive assistance in preparing, verifying, and managing all necessary export and import documentation for seamless transactions.
• Customs Clearance Support - Efficient handling of customs procedures, duties, and compliance to expedite your international shipments without unnecessary delays.

Check out other Free Trade Agreements India participates in to enhance trade opportunities and reduce customs duties.