RESTRICTED

GENERAL AGREEMENT Spec(88)13/Add.12/Rev.2

7 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