China to keep agri-import quota tariffs in 2009

China will leave tariffs on imports within quotas of most agricultural commodities unchanged in 2009, the Ministry of Finance said Thursday (December 18).

In a statement published on its Web site, the ministry said tariff rates for wheat and corn imports within their respective quotas will be unchanged in a range of 1 percent to 10 percent.

Tariffs on cotton, rice and sugar imports within their quotas will be unchanged at one percent, one percent to nine percent and fifteen percent, respectively, it said.

The quotas for wheat, corn, rice and cotton imports have remained unchanged since 2004.

Export tax rates on grains such as wheat and rice will also be unchanged, the ministry said.