FG urges China to reduce export tariffs on Nigerian produce

The Federal Government on Monday urged the Chinese government to review downwards its tariffs for Nigeria’s products exported to China as they have done with their neighbours.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo made the appeal while speaking at a courtesy call by a Chinese delegation consisting of members of the restored Nigeria-China Economic and Technical Joint Commission led by the Vice Minister of Commerce, Qiam Keming.

“This is why your offer of agricultural modernisation plan are very important to us and we will follow them up as quickly as possible.

“Our government is investing a great deal in agriculture, not only for increasing job opportunities for our people, but also in feeding our people and for exports”, a statement by the Vice President’s media aide, Laolu Akande quoted him as saying.

Trade volume between Nigeria and China is put at $14.9 billion as Nigeria remains the third biggest trading partner of China in Africa as well as its second biggest market for exports to Africa.

While appreciating China for its readiness to partner with Nigeria in establishing industrial parks/free trade zones, the development of critical infrastructure, the VP sought China’s support for the Buhari administration’s economic diversification policy.

He commended the fruitful deliberations between the two countries on the platform of the Nigeria-China Joint Cooperation Commission as he was briefed at the meeting today attended by four ministers: Budget & National Planning; Udoma Udo Udoma, Agriculture & Rural Development; Audu Ogbeh, Information & Culture; Lai Mohammed and Minister of State for Budget & Planning, Zainab Ahmed, among other top federal government functionaries.

Earlier, China’s Vice Minister of Commerce and leader of the Chinese delegation, Qiam Keming told the Vice President that the objective of the visit to Nigeria “is to implement the outcome of the last meetings between the Presidents of Nigeria and China and to enhance existing cordial friendship and bilateral trade relations between the two countries”.