China to drop tariffs on 12 wood and paper products imported from New Zealand

Toilet tissue is one of the products that will no longer be subject to Chinese import tariffs from next Thursday.
Toilet tissue is one of the products that will no longer be subject to Chinese import tariffs from next Thursday. Photo credit: Getty Images

Chinese tariffs on 12 wood and paper products imported from New Zealand are to be eliminated from Thursday.

China's finance ministry said the move - which covers products such as toilet tissue and writing paper - would implement an upgrade to the free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries.

It was agreed by the two governments in January that 99 percent of New Zealand's wood and paper trade to China would receive tariff-free access over a 10-year implementation period.

The ministry noted that Thursday 7 April was the 14th anniversary of the signing of the FTA.

RNZ