RESTRICTED
GENERAL AGREEMENT
Spec(88)13/Add.12/Rev.27 March 1994
ON TARIFFS AND TRADE
(94-0403)
Original: English
WORKING PARTY ON CHINA'S STATUS AS A CONTRACTING PARTY
Communication from China
The following document, entitled "Updated Summary Document of the Existing Tariff and Non-Tariff Measures in China", dated February 1994, has been received from the Permanent Representative of the People's Republic of China with the request that it be circulated to the members of the Working Party.
UPDATED SUMMARY DOCUMENT OF THE EXISTING TARIFF
AND NON-TARIFF MEASURES IN CHINA
February 1994
Introduction
This updated Summary Document is intended to provide comprehensive information concerning all tariff and non-tariff measures applied in China irrespective of their consistency with GATT rules and disciplines. For the sake of convenience in the consolidation of all trade measures, this document has been prepared on the basis of the H.S. tariff schedule at 8-digit level.
This document is a revision of the Summary Document circulated as Spec(88)13/Add.12/Rev.1 on 12 March 1993.
It should be noted that China's trade regime has been in the process of constant reform, and this document reflects major changes having taken place since the submission of the document Spec(88)13/Add.12/Rev.1. It can serve as the basis for future periodic trade policy reviews when China resumes its contracting party status.
Explanatory Notes
- Price liberalization has resulted in substantial reduction of state pricing. At present, only 19 heavy industrial products and public utilities, 6 agricultural products and 2 industrial consumer goods continue to be subject to State pricing. State pricing no longer has a significant impact on international trade. Therefore, the column "State-Fixed Pricing" has been taken out. A separate list of products and public utilities subject to State pricing is attached.
- The columns "First and Second Categories" have been taken out, because this practice has been abolished.
- The import control of machinery and electronic products is reclassified into import quota and tender list. Tender list is subject to open tender without quota restriction.
- In the column "Statutory Inspection", the word "Statutory" has been substituted for "Mandatory" to reflect accurately the terminology used in the law on inspection.
List of Products and Public Utilities
Subject to State-Fixed Pricing
Heavy Industrial Products and Public Utilities:
1. electrical power
2. heat power
3. crude oil
4. natural gas
5. liquefied natural gas
6. gas from refineries
7. a few kinds of gasoline (about one fifth of total)
8. a few kinds of kerosene
9. a few kinds of diesel oil (about one third of total)
10. a few kinds of heavy oil
11. a few kinds of naphtha
12. p-xylene
13. urea
14. ammonium nitrate
15. compound fertilizer
16. steel for railway locomotives and rolling-stock
17. cars
18. aircrafts and engines for civil use
19. demolition equipment for civil use
Agricultural Products
1. a few kinds of grain
2. cotton
3. tobacco
4. silkworm cocoon
5. compressed tea
6. timber allocated by the State
Industrial Consumer Products
1. edible salt
2. a few therapeutic medicines