China to Exempt Tariff from 95% Commodities of Least Developed African Countries in Three Years

On May 26, 2010, Commercial Counselor from the Department of Western Asian and African Affairs, the Ministry of Commerce of China, Xie Yajing, said at the press conference of the Third African Commodities Exhibition, "Starting with zero-tariff treatment to 60% of the commodities from the least developed African countries this year, zero-tariff will apply to 95% of such commodities in three years, meanwhile, we will also organize some domestic enterprises to Africa for purchasing."

As per Xie Yajing, in order to improve the competitiveness of African commodities in Chinese market, a year-round African products exhibition center will be set up in Yiwu City of Zhejiang Province, China to provide some preferential treatment to African exhibitors apart from the commodities exhibition.