China reduces tariffs on over 900 commodities to boost domestic demands

China has reduced import tariffs on a large number of goods in its latest move to expand domestic demand and advance high-standard opening up.

The move is part of an annual tariff adjustment plan that takes effect on Jan. 1.

Provisional import tariffs, lower than the most-favored-nation rates, will be applied to 935 commodities. Authorities say the plan will help increase imports of quality products.

The tariff reduction also aligns with the need to foster new quality productive forces, enhance people’s well-being, and promote green and low-carbon development.

Under 24 free trade and preferential trade arrangements, conventional tariff rates will be applied to certain products from 34 countries or regions next year as part of China’s efforts to expand its globally-oriented network of high-standard free trade areas.

Among these, lower tariffs under the China-Maldives free trade agreement, effective Jan. 1, 2025, will eventually lead to zero tariffs on nearly 96 percent of tariff lines between the two sides.

China also continues to offer zero-tariff treatment on 100 percent of tariff lines to the 43 least developed countries that have diplomatic relations with China.

The move aims to support their development and foster mutual benefits.

Specified tariff items will be introduced for products such as pure electric passenger vehicles to support industrial development and sci-tech advancement, while import tariffs will be increased on goods including battery diaphragms, in light of domestic industrial development and market supply and demand, and in accordance with its commitments to the World Trade Organization.

Xinjiang’s Alashankou Port handled 7,684 China-Europe (Central Asia) freight train services in 2024, setting a record high and registering a 15.8 percent year-on-year increase, according to latest report form the railway department.

The port in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region saw off the region’s first China-Europe freight train of 2025 just 20 minutes after the new year arrived.

The train fully loaded with daily necessities, machinery and auto parts left on Wednesday, heading to Małaszewicze of Poland.

Alashankou Railway Port has seen an over 15 percent increase in its capacity for broad-gauge and standard-gauge freight train operations over the same period last year.

In 2024, the port has added eight new freight train routes, with a record of 29 trains passing through in a single day.

“The average number of trains passing through the port every day is 21. We’re tracking the traffic flow in real time, with attention paid to ensure seamless connection of operation links such as bill circulation, pick-up and delivery of coaches and cargo loading. Those efforts are made to well organize the inbound and outbound China-Europe freight trains and improve the overall traffic efficiency at the port,” said Yan Huapeng, director of the operation workshop of Alashankou Railway Station, China Railway Urumqi Group.

To further improve the efficiency of cross-border freight services, customs authority at Alashankou has set a special window for these services, offering around-the-clock green channel. The customs authority regularly reviews the entire clearance process and refines operational protocols for each stage to ensure smooth coordination.

At present, a total of 123 China-Europe freight train routes pass through Alashankou Port, transporting more than 200 kinds of goods, including complete vehicles, engineering equipment and other high value-added items, to 21 countries and regions in Europe and Asia.

Alashankou is China’s important westbound port and the closest railway port to the European Union. The steady growth of China-Europe freight train services in terms of scale provides strong logistic support to the trade between China and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) countries.