CHINA: CHINA TO CUT IMPORT TARIFFS ON WOOD PRODUCTS.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)

IPR Strategic Business Information Database, February, 2002

China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) will adversely affect domestic manufacturers of wood products. China's agreement with the other WTO members stipulates that import tariffs on wood products will be cut from the original 15% to 20% to an average of 2% to 3% by 2004. Jia Qian, an official at the State Forestry Administration, stated "Timber imports will continue to rise now that China has entered the WTO." Jia stated that as China has a shortage of forests, it must import a large amount of timber and wood products during the next 10 years, according to China Daily.

The Chinese government has been protecting natural forests since 1998. This move has caused China's timber volume to fall to 40 million cubic metres per year, from 70 million. This...

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