China to lower tariffs on certain products

The State Council, China's Cabinet, decided at an executive meeting presided over by Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday to further cut tariffs on a number of imported goods, starting on July 1, in the country's move of opening-up to benefit domestic consumers and boost industrial transformation.

Average tariff rates for clothes, shoes, hats, kitchen kits and sports products will be reduced to 7.1 percent from the current 15.9 percent, according to a statement released after the meeting.

Average rates for household appliances, such as washing machines and refrigerators, will be diminished to 8 percent, 12.5 percentage points lower than the current tariff.

Tariffs on aquatic products and mineral water will be 6.9 percent on average from the existing 15.2 percent, while cleaning products, cosmetics and some healthcare products will be levied 2.9 percent in tariffs from the present 8.4 percent, the statement said.

Further tariff cuts will be beneficial to opening-up and meeting the public's demands, which also will push forward quality improvement and industrial upgrading, the statement said. It also said related departments should strictly carry out the policy and prevent any increases in prices in intermediate links.