According to China¡¯s WTO commitments, beginning from Jan. 1 2002, China has effected ¡°IT Product Protocol¡± tariff rates for 251 IT product tariff items, as an effort to promote maximized free trade of IT products worldwide. Statistics from the Customs show there is apparent consequence after the implementation of such policy, the total import value of IT products the 1st quarter this year surges 16.3% as compared with the same period last year.

Experts have pointed out the ¡°IT Product Protocol¡± has greatly stimulated China¡¯s information products import. As stipulated by the Protocol, zero tariffs will be applicable to most of the IT products in 2003, and to all IT products by 2005. As more and more IT products enjoy zero tariffs, the upcoming five years are forecasted to be the peak time of IT products import for China. The import upsurge not only promotes the transfer of manufacturing, R&D and investment into China by multinationals, thus providing China with the opportunity to become the global information products manufacturing and R&D base; but also facilitate the procurement cost reduction and export expansion of domestic enterprises. (Source: People Daily)