China to Place New Taxes on Foreign Goods Bought via E-Commerce

(Beijing) – China is to impose new tax rules on cross-border e-commerce that experts say will increase the cost of many items such as food, health care products and low-price cosmetics.

From April 8, buyers of all imported goods purchased online must pay most of a 17 percent value-added tax and a consumption tax, if applicable, according to a policy released on March 24 by the Ministry of Finance, the General Administration of Customs and the State Administration of Taxation.