Govt offers zero tariff treatments to 4762 products

03 Jul '10

3 min read

At the United Nations High Level Conference on Millennium Development Goals, the Chinese Government made the commitment of rendering zero tariff treatments to the products of Least Developed Countries (LDCs), which accounts for 95% of all Chinese taxable items. Starting form 1 July 2010, China will render zero tariff treatment to 4762 products originated from Bangladesh and other 32 Least Developed Countries (in accordance with 2010 China Customs Nomenclature), accounting for 60% of all Chinese taxable items. Thus, China has become one of those developing countries that open their markets to LDCs to the largest extent.

China is one of those developing countries that rendered zero tariff treatment to LDCs at the earliest time. Since 2001, China has been gradually rendering zero tariff treatment to certain amount of products from 41 Least Developed Countries (LDCs). Up to now, China has been providing zero tariff treatment to about 1000 products from LDCs, which cover almost all products those countries exported to China. In 2008, the LDCs export to China accounted for 23% of their total export volume, making China the largest market for LDCs.

The 4762 products from LDCs that will enjoy zero tariff treatment include poultry products, medicinal materials, plastic appliances, leather, timber, ready made garments, etc. According to China's statistics in 2008, the 4762 products account for 98.2% of the total volume of LDCs' export to China. China will, according to the opinions of countries concerned and the status of the implementation of the measures, continue to enlarge the range of products from LDCs that enjoy zero tariff treatment and gradually increase the ratio from 60% to 95%.

The 33 countries that will enjoy zero tariff treatments are: Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Benin, Burundi, Equatorial, Guinea, Eritrea, Djibouti, Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Comoros, Liberia, Madagascar, Mali, Malawi, Mauritania, Mozambique, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Lesotho, Chad, Central Africa, Afghanistan, Nepal, East Timor, Yemen, Samoa, Vanuatu.

At present, the World Trade Organization Doha round negotiations are caught up in impasse. The commitments by developed countries to render 97% of products from LDCs zero tariff and zero quota have not been implemented. As a developing country facing challenges of global financial crisis and complicated domestic economic situation, China faithfully implements the Millennium Declaration of the United Nations and provides the products of LDCs with zero tariff treatments. This clearly embodies China's determination to uphold the openness, fairness and equity of multilateral trade regime and China's political will to help LDCs to promote their economic development.

With the comprehensive implementation of zero tariff treatments, a large quantity of products from LDCs can easily enter Chinese market without any tariff, which will bring concrete good to the people of LDCs and further strengthen the friendly relations between China and LDCs. China hopes that other countries, in particular developed countries, can provide more favorable market access treatments to LDCs. Furthermore, China hopes that the measures adopted by China can push forward the Doha round negotiation to its early successful conclusion with the aim of revitalizing the global economy.

Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the People's Republic of Bangladesh

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