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The Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, Mr John Tsang, today (March 23) met a group of mooncake traders and manufacturers to hear their views on the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA).

Led by legislator Tommy Cheung, the group proposed that mooncakes be included in the list of products for the next phase of tariffs elimination.

The meeting follows the decision to extend the deadline for applications by the business sector on additional products to enjoy zero tariffs by one month to April 30, 2004.

Under CEPA, 374 Hong Kong origin goods can be exported to the Mainland tariff-free starting from January 1, 2004. The Mainland will apply zero tariffs to other products no later than January 1, 2006 upon application by local manufacturers and upon CEPA origin rules being agreed and met.

So far, the Trade and Industry Department had received 94 applications for products to enjoy zero tariffs, including food and beverage, textile and clothing, metal, plastic, machinery, electronic and optical products. The next step will be to submit a consolidated list of requests to the Ministry of Commerce before June 1 and enter into discussions on the timetable for implementing the second phase of zero tariffs as well as to agree on the origin rules for the additional products.

Ends/Tuesday, March 23, 2004

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