With the approval of the State Council, China will continue to abide by its tariff concession commitments made in accession to the World Trade Organization, by lowering import tariffs of 44 items.  After the adjustment, the 2007 general tariff level will drop from 9.9 to 9.8 percent. Of the total, the tariff rate of agricultural products averages 15.2 percent, while that of industrial commodities is 8.95 percent.

China will continue to maintain tariff quotas on seven farm produces such as wheat, corn, paddy and rice, sugar, wool, wool tops and cotton. Additionally, the quota rate for fertilizers of three categories, including carbamide, diammonium phosphate, and NPK compound fertilizer, will be stabilized at 1 percent.

Meanwhile, China raised the duties for goods and articles brought in by tourists or by parcels mailed to China. The tariff rate on imports of golf clubs and luxury watches will surge up to 30 percent from previous 10 percent, while that of cosmetics will rise to 50 percent from 20 percent.

(China.org.cn)