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Imports to surge this year, says official

China's imports may exceed $2 trillion in value this year, a record, said Song Xianmao, deputy director of the foreign trade department under the Ministry of Commerce. The official made the remarks at a meeting over the weekend and said multiple measures will be taken to boost imports next year. China has lowered tariffs on an array of products from medicines to vehicles in 2018, with the general duty level down from 9.8 percent to 7.5 percent. Customs data showed imports increased 14.6 percent year-on-year in the first 11 months, contributing more than 60 percent to foreign trade growth.

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