Car import tariffs in China slashed to increase international trade

The Ministry of Finance in China will decrease car import tariff rates by 10 percent on July 1, 2018 in order to make the world’s largest new car market more attractive to foreign carmakers and boost automotive development.

This significant cut in import tariffs, taking the figure from an unusually high 25 percent to 15 percent, aims to spur investment in the Chinese automotive industry - a sector that has already gained attention on the world stage for its fast-paced development in EV car technology.

China’s high tariff had reduced potential input from foreign manufacturers that do not produce cars within its borders, such as Tesla. Elon Musk, Tesla's CEO, had previously stated that China’s levy had created a skewed market, while US President Donald Trump labelled it “stupid trade”.

Trump’s comments reflected the US’s comparably low import tariff for new cars at just 2.5 percent and he had placed pressure on China to lower its tariffs to even the playing field. The European Union, by comparison, has a 10 percent levy on foreign-made cars entering its borders.

Although China’s reduced levy still makes the country more expensive than most other major markets, its scale alone has spurred many foreign car makers to invest there. Last year, 2,39,00,000 cars were sold in China, dwarfing 1,56,30,000 in the EU and European Free Trade Association countries in the same period.

China also looks set to remove long-standing ownership limits on foreign car companies by 2022. Currently, non-Chinese companies can only build cars in the country via joint ventures, such as FAW-Volkswagen and Chery Jaguar Land Rover. Recently announced plans outlined by Chinese President Xi Jinping will remove the requirement for companies to partner a Chinese firm and to own no more than 50 percent of the venture.

Along with the reduced tariffs, this change is expected to especially benefit those interested in investing in China's electric car technology sector.