Tariffs reduced to spur consumption,more duty-free shops likely

Tariffs on imported consumer goods will be cut in parts of China by the end of June to fuel domestic consumption, stabilize economic growth and reduce the outflow of spending by Chinese tourists.

六月底，中国部分地区的进口消费品关税将降低，政府希望以此来推动国内消费、稳定经济增长以及减少出国旅游消费。

An executive meeting of the State Council, presided over by Premier Li Keqiang, decided on Tuesday to increase imports of overseas products favored by Chinese consumers, in a move to woo those whose shopping lists during overseas travel have expanded from luxury brands to daily consumer goods.

由李克强总理主持召开的国务院常委会决定，周三将增加深受中国消费者青睐的进口货物，为了吸引到海外旅游的消费者，他们的购物清单从奢侈品牌扩大到了日常消费品。

More duty-free stores will open at Chinese borders, with a higher purchasing cap for each individual tourist and more categories of products. Easier tax refund procedures will be promoted, accompanied by reinforced efforts in customs clearing checks to curb smuggling, the meeting decided.

会议决定，中国边境将开放更多的免税店，对散客开放更高额度购买限制，提供种类繁多的产品。退税手续办理将更加容易，同时加强海关清关检查以减少走私。

A statement released afterward said the policies are part of the government’s efforts to boost consumption, sustain growth and restructure the economy.

随后发布的一份声明中称，上述措施是政府努力刺激消费、维持经济增长和调整经济结构的一部分。

Chinese tourists spend an average of about 12,000 yuan ($1,934) on tours and 7,000 yuan on shopping, according to the China National Tourism Administration. But more Chinese are willing to travel overseas, with shopping high on their agendas, driven by a stronger yuan, favorable visa policies and growing wealth.

国家旅游局数据显示，中国游客平均旅行消费1.2万元(1934美元)，购物消费达7000元。然而，随着人民币升值、签证政策良好以及收入增加，更多的中国人愿意到海外旅游，并在期间进行大量消费。

A recent HSBC report shows that Chinese are buying about 40 percent of luxury goods sold in France and account for 35 percent of such sales in Italy and 25 percent in Britain. Their interest in daily consumer goods surged following the frenzied buying by Chinese of electronic toilet seats and rice cookers in Japan during the Spring Festival holiday.

汇丰银行最新报告显示，法国40%的奢侈品被中国游客购买，同样，在意大利和英国的数值分别为35%和25%。春节期间，随着中国游客在日本疯狂购买电动马桶盖和电饭锅，他们对日常消费品的兴趣高涨。

The central government allowed Hainan, China’s southernmost island province, to run two duty-free shops in 2011. Nonlocals can make duty-free purchases twice a year when leaving the resort island, each capped at 8,000 yuan.

2011年，中国政府允许在最南部的海岛省份海南省设立两家免税店。外地游客每年在离开的时候，可在免税商店进行两次购物，购买上限为8000元。

But the trial in Hainan failed to boost tourist spending due to the limited choice of products and the cap on purchasing, said Liu Deqian, an expert at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences’ Tourism Research Center, with only 10 percent of the passengers departing from Hainan buying duty-free goods.

但中国科学院旅游研究中心专家刘德谦介绍，这一试点因为有限的商品选择和购买上限，未能达到刺激旅游消费的目的，只有10%的游客在离开海南的时候购买免税商品。

Liu said that the new national policies should lead to more domestic tourists spending at home. But Liu added that the effects are hard to predict before a detailed plan is released with tax rates, purchasing limit and product categories.

刘德谦表示，新的国家政策会引导更多的国内旅客在国内消费，但是税率、购买上限和产品种类等详细计划发布之前，效果还很难预测。

完成阅读

来源:China Daily 英语新闻爱语吧作者:孙梦光