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The move, which was announced after a state council meeting led
by Premier Li Keqiang, aims to further open China's consumer
market, will force its industries to upgrade and boost
competitiveness, the government said in a statement.
Import tariffs for apparel, footwear and headgear, kitchen
supplies and fitness products will be more than halved to 7.1
percent from 15.9 percent, with those on washing machines and
refrigerators slashed to just 8 percent, from 20.5 percent now.
Tariffs will also be cut on processed foods such as aquaculture
and fishing products and mineral water, from 15.2 percent to 6.9
percent.
Cosmetics, such as skin and hair products, and some medical and
health products, will also benefit from a tariff cut to 2.9
percent from 8.4 percent, the government said in the statement
on its official website.
It did not give details of what medical and health products were
covered.
Beijing has pledged to take steps to increase imports amid
rising tension with some of its biggest trade partners, such as
the United States.
In December, China cut import taxes on almost 200 consumer
products including food, health supplements, pharmaceuticals,
garments and recreational goods to 7.7 percent, on average, from
17.3 percent, according to the finance ministry.
The tariff cuts will also benefit global brands looking to
increase their presence in China, particularly in cities in its
hinterland.
China will work hard to maintain its status as a major
destination for foreign investment, and create a fairer, more
transparent and convenient investment environment, the statement
added.
(Reporting by Se Young Lee and Yawen Chen; Editing by Jacqueline
Wong and Clarence Fernandez)
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