Zero-tariff boosts China-Africa common development: spokesman

China's comprehensive zero-tariff treatment boosts the common development between China and Africa, said Commerce Ministry spokesman He Yadong at a press conference in Beijing on Thursday.

Since May 1 this year, China has implemented a comprehensive zero-tariff treatment for 53 African countries that have diplomatic ties with China in a two-year period. At the same time, the country continues to promote the negotiation and signing of the China-Africa Economic Partnership for Shared Development agreement, said the spokesman.

"This is a major step China has taken to unswervingly expand high-standard opening up and implement the outcomes of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. Against the backdrop that unilateralism and protectionism posed difficulties and challenges to African countries, China leverages its vast market advantages and proactively opens its market to achieve common development. Since implementation, this measure has been widely welcomed by African countries and highly praised by the international community," said He.

Zero-tariff boosts China-Africa common development: spokesman

The U.S. federal government's customs tariff refunds reached 21.972 billion U.S. dollars in May, according to monthly fiscal data released by the U.S. Department of the Treasury on Wednesday.

The federal government's total customs tariff revenue for May was 21.93 billion dollars, meaning that after deducting tariff refunds, the net tariff revenue for the month was negative 42 million dollars.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Feb 20 that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not authorize the president to impose sweeping tariffs.

On March 4, the U.S. Court of International Trade ruled that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) must not levy tariffs during customs clearance based on the IEEPA.

CBP launched the relevant refund process on April 20, with the first batch of refunds issued around May 11.

US refunds nearly 22 billion dollars in tariffs in May