China exempts tariffs on certain imports to fight virus

China decided to exempt additional tariffs on certain categories of goods imported from the United States for preventing and controlling the novel coronavirus epidemic, the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council said in a statement on Saturday.

It means to reinstate the tariff reduction obligations suspended by US Section 232, and there will be no additional tariffs as per the countermeasures against US Section 301, the Commission said.

Tariffs that have already been collected will be returned, said the statement read.

The new tariff policy aims to increase imports of necessary materials to curb spreading of infections caused by the new virus, according to the commission.