China imposes 3-year duties on sugar imports

The investigation is launched last year in response to pleas by the domestic industry. It found that increasing imports were causing serious harm to local producers. [Photo: Chinanews.com]

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce has announced the final ruling on an investigation into sugar imports, enacting a 3-year duty to protect the domestic industry.

The duty will be set at 45 percent from May 22, 2017 to May 21, 2018, and be reduced to 40 percent then 35 percent in each subsequent year, according to the ministry's statement on its website.

It will be reduced to 40 percent then 35 percent in each subsequent year.

The duties do not cover imports within the quota of 1.95 million tonnes for 2017.

Last year, China imported nearly 3.1 million tonnes of sugar, down 36.8 percent from 2015.