11 August 2008

East Timor: Tariff-free exports to China

2008-08-11 Beijing, China, 11 Aug - The Chinese government has scrapped import duties on products imported from East Timor, President José Ramos Horta said Thursday after a meeting with Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao.

In comments to the Lusa news agency, Ramos Horta said Timor will buy two coastguard patrol boats from China valued at a total US$ 25 million to police the new nation’s exclusive economic zone.

Coffee continues to be Timor’s main export to China, but Ramos Horta expressed confidence that future bilateral trade will widen to include fisheries and food products.

He also said the Chinese patrol boats would join another two vessels provided by Portugal to provide surveillance in Timor’s territorial waters. (macauhub)

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