China has done substantial work in tariff reform and will
further cut import duties according to the commitments made during
its accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001,
official said.
Liu Wenjie, deputy director of the Chinese General
Administration of Customs, said at a press conference held in
Beijing Tuesday that China sorted out and revised more than 3,000
customs documents which went against WTO rules and international
practices since 2000.
Apart from the amended and practiced customs law, a
newly-amended national regulation on import and export duties has
been promulgated and will take effect as of Jan. 1, 2004, Liu
said.
A new regulation on intellectual property protection will be
published shortly and a customs announcement on the predefinition
of place of origin is under deliberation, according to Liu.
Meanwhile, China reduced tariff rates yearly. In 2003, the
average tariff rate was cut from 12 percent to 11 percent. In 2002,
the figure was reduced from 15.3 percent to 12 percent, Liu
said.
Liu went on to say that the decrease of tariffs spurred Chinese
imports and helped increase tariff income.
In the January-November period, Liu noted, Chinese imports rose
by 39.1 percent to hit US$370.6 billion.
Customs income surged by 103.8 billion yuan (US$12.55 billion)
to 338 billion yuan (US$40.83 billion) in the same period, Liu
said.
The soaring trade benefited China and its partners including
Japan, the United States and the EU, which recorded US$100 billion
trade volume with China in the first 10 months of 2003, Liu
said.
Liu acknowledged that the reduction of tariff rates served to
promote the integration of the domestic and international market
and China will further this downward progress according to WTO
arrangements.
The improved customs management also helped to create a fair,
transparent and predictable environment for the companies, Liu
said.
(Xinhua News Agency December 10, 2003)