Australasia's home for timber news and information

China adjusts import tariffs while closing the door to Australian timber

On 1 January 2021 China adjusted import tariffs on commodities including some of those in the most favoured nation (MFN) category, conventional tariffs and provisional tariffs commodities. This was in response to the various trade deals agreed including the Free Trade Agreement between China and Mauritius. Source: Tropical Timber Market Report

Further tariff reductions will be made under the free trade agreements China has signed with countries including New Zealand, Peru, Costa Rica, Switzerland, Iceland, Pakistan, Chile, Australia, the Republic of Korea, Georgia as well as the Asia-Pacific trade agreement, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

Among the changes and in order to encourage domestic demand for imported materials the import duties on more than 100 wood products will be reduced. China will continue to apply preferential tariff rates to goods from the 43 of the least developed countries that have established diplomatic ties with China Tariff concessions under China-Mongolia Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement.

Also, on 1 January 2021 China and Mongolia implemented tariff changes under RCEP. Mongolia reduced tariffs on 366 tariff lines including, among others, aquatic products, vegetables and fruits, animal and vegetable oil, mineral products, chemical products, timber, yarn, chemical fibres, mechanical products, and transport equipment.

As a result of finding pests in imported Australian logs on three occasions (31 October, 11 November and 3 December 2020) China’s Customs issued warning notices to suspend the import of Australian logs from Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia. Live forest pests were found in logs from New South Wales State and Western Australia by Tianjin, Nanjing, Xiamen, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Huangpu Customs.

In accordance with the provisions of the Animal and Plant Quarantine Law of the people’s Republic of China the country is implementing regulations and International Standards for Phytosanitary measures. China has decided to suspend the import of logs from New South Wales and Western Australia.