China may expand Africa zero import tariff policy

Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta (right) presents a gift to Mr Chen Deming, China's Commerce Minister on January 19, 2009. Photo/PETERSON GITHAIGA (NAIROBI)

BEIJING, Sunday

China is considering including more African goods in a list of products excluded from import tariffs as a way of further boosting trade with the continent, state media said today.

China already levies no import tariffs on more than 10 types of goods imported from 31 African countries, including textiles, machinery and farm products, the official Xinhua news agency said.

β€œOn the basis of offering zero tariffs for goods from 31 least developed African countries, we will consider further expanding the beneficiary scope of African products, and encourage enterprises to favour African goods under the same conditions,” it quoted Commerce Minister Chen Deming as saying.