Tariff rate, applied, simple mean, primary products (%) in China
China: Tariff rate, applied, simple mean, primary products (%) was 6.4% in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Tariff rate, applied, simple mean, primary products in China, 1992–2022
Source: Staff estimates. Measured in %.
Analysis
China recorded 6.4% for tariff rate, applied, simple mean, primary products in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 28 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.9% on the previous year and down 20.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tariff rate, applied, simple mean, primary products in China peaked at 34.7% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 6.4%, in 2022.
China ranks 101st of 184 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Tariff rate, applied, simple mean, primary products (%) in China, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 34.7% | — |
| 1993 | 30.9% | -10.9% |
| 1994 | 29.2% | -5.3% |
| 1996 | 23.7% | -18.9% |
| 1997 | 17.1% | -27.9% |
| 1998 | 16.8% | -1.8% |
| 1999 | 16.7% | -0.7% |
| 2000 | 17.4% | +4.3% |
| 2001 | 16.0% | -8.0% |
| 2002 | 12.2% | -23.6% |
| 2003 | 10.8% | -12.1% |
| 2004 | 9.8% | -9.0% |
| 2005 | 8.8% | -10.2% |
| 2006 | 8.8% | +0.8% |
| 2007 | 8.9% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 8.7% | -2.0% |
| 2009 | 8.0% | -7.6% |
| 2010 | 8.2% | +2.1% |
| 2011 | 8.0% | -2.3% |
| 2014 | 7.5% | -5.6% |
| 2015 | 7.8% | +3.0% |
| 2016 | 8.2% | +5.0% |
| 2017 | 9.1% | +11.1% |
| 2018 | 8.0% | -12.1% |
| 2019 | 6.5% | -18.8% |
| 2020 | 6.5% | +0.5% |
| 2021 | 6.4% | -1.2% |
| 2022 | 6.4% | -0.9% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 6.4% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6.6%, 96% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- China's 6.4% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 6.2%, 1.0× the median. (28 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 24.2% | 16.7% | 34.7% | 7 |
| 2000s | 10.9% | 8.0% | 17.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.9% | 6.5% | 9.1% | 8 |
| 2020s | 6.4% | 6.4% | 6.5% | 3 |
Countries ranked near China
More private sector data for China
- Merchandise trade 32.6% (2025)
- Food imports 8.0% (2025)
- Manufactures imports 50.9% (2025)
- Merchandise imports 2.58 trillion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service imports 619.60 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 2.3% (2025)
- Manufactures exports 90.5% (2025)
- Merchandise exports 3.77 trillion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service exports 383.15 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 2,682 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tariff rate, applied, simple mean, primary products in China?
- Tariff rate, applied, simple mean, primary products in China was 6.4% in 2022, according to Staff estimates.
- What is the highest tariff rate, applied, simple mean, primary products recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 34.7% in 1992.
- What is the lowest tariff rate, applied, simple mean, primary products recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.4% in 2022.
- How does China rank for tariff rate, applied, simple mean, primary products?
- China ranks 101st out of 184 countries with data for 2022.
- Is tariff rate, applied, simple mean, primary products rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Staff estimates, published as part of Tariff rate, applied, simple mean, primary products (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 28 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Simple mean applied tariff is the unweighted average of effectively applied rates for all products subject to tariffs calculated for all traded goods. Data are classified using the Harmonized System of trade at the six- or eight-digit level. Tariff line data were matched to Standard International Trade Classification (SITC) revision 3 codes to define commodity groups. Effectively applied tariff rates at the six- and eight-digit product level are averaged for products in each commodity group. When the effectively applied rate is unavailable, the most favored nation rate is used instead. To the extent possible, specific rates have been converted to their ad valorem equivalent rates and have been included in the calculation of simple mean tariffs. Primary products are commodities classified in SITC revision 3 sections 0-4 plus division 68 (nonferrous metals).