The Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council has recently issued the 2019 Plan for Adjustments to Temporary Tariff Rates for Imports and Exports and Other Tax Rates (the "Plan"), with effect from January 1, 2019.

The Plan states that, beginning from January 1, 2019, temporary tariff rates will take effect on 706 types of imported commodities. For instance, a new policy is introduced to impose zero tariffs on mixed meals and on some raw materials used to produce drugs, and the sliding duty on cotton and the temporary tariff rate on some imported fur will be lowered appropriately. Moreover, the Plan expressly states that, from January 1, 2019, 94 categories of commodities, covering fertilizer, apatite, iron sand, slag, coal tar, and wood pulp, will no longer be subject to tariffs when they are exported. Meanwhile, in 2019, China will apply conventional tariff rates to some commodities originating from 23 countries or regions. For example, further tariff cuts will be offered under the free trade agreement between China and New Zealand and between China and Peru, among others, and under the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA). Furthermore, the Plan reads that from July 1, 2019, China will take its 4th step to reduce the most favored nation tariff rates on 298 information technology products, and meanwhile, adjust accordingly the temporary tariff rates on some information technology products.

 (Source: MOF )