Beijing will levy an extra 45% duty on top of the current 50% duty for out-of-quota sugar imports for this fiscal year, China's Commerce Ministry said in a statement. China is Thailand’s fifth most important export market, and particularly significant in the light of Thailand’s increased sugar production. In the most recent 2016-17 season, the country produced 10 million tonnes of sugar from 93 million tonnes of sugar cane. Producers in China regard the new tariff as a necessary offset to artificially cheap imports. The new duties will not affect the 1.94 million tonnes of sugar imports that China currently allows at a tariff of only 15% as part of its commitment to the World Trade Organization.

Source: Bangkok Post May 22, 2017 04:41 UTC