The Ministry of
Finance announced Thursday China will raise export tariff rates
on 25 categories of copper and its products as of April 10.
The ministry said the Tariff Committee of the State Council has
decided to raise the provisional export tariff on refined copper
and copper alloy from 5 to 10 percent and the tariff rate on copper
products from zero to 10 percent.
The move is designed to limit the export of energy intensive and
heavily polluting commodities said a ministry statement.
The move is the latest example of China's efforts to discourage
exports of those commodities and therefore reduce pollution
generally and ensure domestic supplies.
China abolished the export tax rebate for secondary aluminum alloy
and raised the export tariff rates last year.
(Xinhua News Agency March 10, 2006)