China to extend zero-tariff treatment to 98% of Ugandan goods

China had pledged to provide tariff preferences for LDCs at the eighth ministerial conference of the Forum on China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) held in Senegal last year. The recent announcement to allow zero-tariff duties for 98 per cent taxable items from Uganda is the extension of China’s commitment at FOCAC, said Zhang Lizhong, Chinese ambassador to Uganda, while speaking at the public unveiling of the special preferential tariff treatment of Ugandan exports to China.

The benefits will gradually be extended to all LDCs who have diplomatic relations with China, according to Chinese media reports.

Francis Mwebesa, minister for trade, industry, and cooperatives, has appealed to the African business community to take advantage of the Chinese market access.

The zero-tariff treatment will be applicable to 98 per cent of goods from the 10 least-developed countries, including Guinea-Bissau, Lesotho, Malawi, Afghanistan, Benin, Burkina Faso, Sao Tome and Principe, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia, according to Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council. China had also extended the same benefits to 16 LDCs back in September.

ALCHEMPro News Desk (DP)