China has granted zero tariff treatment to 100% of tariff items of all diplomatic LDCs

The WTO held several development-related meetings from June 16th to 18th. These included a meeting of the Sub-Committee on Least-Developed Countries on June 16th, and various sessions on Regional Trade Agreements, the Monitoring Mechanism on Special and Differential Treatment, and Preferential Trade Arrangements on June 18th. The Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures also met on June 18th.

 

• Expanding Zero-Tariff Policy: China notified the WTO of its expanded zero-tariff policy for least developed countries (LDCs) with diplomatic relations with Beijing, raising product coverage to 100%. This policy, effective December 1, 2024, aims to promote trade and strengthen technical training programs. The policy applies to all 53 African countries that recognize Beijing diplomatically.
• Commitment to WTO Accession and LDCs: China pledged USD 600,000 to support the WTO's Least-Developed Countries (LDCs) and Accessions Programme for 2025. This program helps LDCs integrate into the global economy by strengthening their participation in WTO activities and assisting those not yet members to join the organization. The funds support activities such as WTO internships and increased participation of LDCs in WTO meetings.

Xinhua News Agency, Geneva, June 18 (Reporter Jiao Qian) The World Trade Organization held a series of development meetings in Geneva, Switzerland from June 16 to 18. During the meeting, the Chinese representative formally informed the WTO that all the least developed countries that have established diplomatic relations with China have been granted zero tariff treatment for 100% of the tariff items.

 

The Chinese representative also expressed his willingness to implement the zero tariff measure for 100% of the tariff items of 53 African countries that have established diplomatic relations with China through negotiation and signing of the Economic Partnership Agreement for Joint Development.

 

The Chinese representative said that the relevant measures reflect China's determination and actions to expand independent opening up, which will provide new development opportunities and new growth momentum for African countries and the least developed countries, and inject stability and positive energy into the development of global trade. In the current turbulent situation of international trade, China calls on developed members and capable developing members to take more actions to jointly maintain a free and open international economic and trade order and promote inclusive economic globalization.

Representatives of the Least Developed Countries Group, the African Group and other WTO members expressed sincere gratitude to China, emphasizing that the economic growth of developing members faces unprecedented challenges and uncertainties, and China's measures have set a benchmark for other members. These representatives hope that more members will learn from China's practices and provide more targeted preferential policies, capacity building support and other forms of assistance to developing economies, including the least developed countries, to increase the share of the least developed countries in global trade and promote inclusive and sustainable development of global trade.