China’s import tariffs to be slashed
Beijing is to further cut its tariffs on imported goods on January 1 next year in line with its commitments to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), a senior foreign trade ministry official said.
The mainland will also introduce a new set of customs and tariff rules to come into operation on the same day, said Yi Xiaozhun, director of the department of international affairs under the ministry of foreign trade and economic co-operation.
Mr Yi declined to reveal more details about the tariff cuts but Mou Xinsheng, minister in charge of the General Administration of Customs, said Beijing would keep its promise to gradually reduce tariffs on imported goods. By 2005 average Customs duties on imported industrial products should be slashed by about 10% - well below the average of other developing countries, Mou was quoted as saying by China News Service. Whatever changes might take place in the tariff system and Customs management, the country would strictly abide by WTO rules, he said.
