Export tax rebate net widened

China has increased the tax rebates for exports of 533 hi-tech and machinery products from January 1, 2009, as part of its efforts to help exporters struggling amid the global economic meltdown.

Exporters of industrial robots and airplane navigation systems would now get tax rebates of 17 percent compared with 14 and 13 percent respectively earlier, the Ministry of Finance said in a statement posted on its website.

Tax rebates for exports of motorcycles and sewing machines have been raised to 14 percent from 11 and 13 percent respectively.