Northwest Horticultural Council
Export Manual
CHINA
Capital: BeijingPopulation: 1,416,043,270 (2024)
Currency: Renminbi (Yuan)
Official Language(s): Mandarin Chinese
U.S. and China Announce Reduction of Tariffs – May 15, 2025
I. CHEMICAL MAXIMUM RESIDUE LEVELS (MRLs)
Please click on the above link for a list of chemical MRLs.
II. CHEMICALS AND ADDITIVE INFORMATION
A. Chemical residue standards:
China maintains a national MRL list and does not defer to other market standards. Although China does not officially defer to Codex, China’s Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) has stated that it will consider Codex MRLs in cases where there is a residue dispute on specific shipments.
China does not have a default MRL policy.
B. Monitoring chemical residues:
Monitoring rules and practices exist, but in practice it is unclear how often testing is actually done and how results may be used.
C. Restrictions on use of waxes:
None.
III. ORGANIC FRUIT REGULATIONS
China instituted measures governing the certification procedures, production, processing, marketing and labeling of organic products in 2005. China does not recognize foreign organic standards, and there is not an organic standards equivalency agreement between the U.S. and China. To promote and sell produce as organic the product must have an official Chinese organic certification and label. Shippers are advised to work closely with importers to ensure compliance.
IV. TARIFFS
As of May 14, 2025, the total tariff rate by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) on U.S. fresh apples, pears, and sweet cherries is 45 percent (or 75 percent for importers who have not secured Section 301 exemptions). Fresh fruit imports are also subject to a 9 percent value-added tax.
The PRC’s tariffs break down as such:
| MFN Rate | Section 232 Retaliation | Section 301 Retaliation | Retaliation Announcement No. 2 | MOFCOM Statement | Full Tariff Amount | 301 Market-Based Exclusion | Total Applied Tariff Rate | |
| Effective Date | 1/1/25 | 4/2/18 | 2/14/20 | 3/10/25 | 5/14/25 | 5/14/25 | 4/10/25 | 5/14/25 |
| Apples | 10% | 15% | 30% | 10% | 10% | 75% | -30% | 45% |
| Pears | 10% | 15% | 30% | 10% | 10% | 75% | -30% | 45% |
| Cherries | 10% | 15% | 30% | 10% | 10% | 75% | -30% | 45% |
Table Source: USDA GAIN Report – May 14, 2025
Tariff Exclusionary Process
China’s State Council Tariff Commission (SCCTC) established a tariff exclusionary process of Section 301 tariffs for U.S. apples, pears, and cherries. Chinese importers must apply for and be granted all tariff exclusions for section 301 retaliatory tariffs.
V. NON-TARIFF BARRIERS
A. Labeling requirements:
There are Standardized Labeling Requirements for shipping apples to China. A USDA Shield stamp is also required. Please contact Northwest Fruit Exporters at NFE@nwhort.org or 509-453-3193.
B. Licenses and quotas:
China requires importers to obtain Quarantine Import Permits (QIPs). Please refer to the pest and plant disease restrictions section below for more information.
C. Currency Issues:
China’s currency, the Renminbi (Yuan) is pegged to the U.S. dollar.
D. Pest and plant disease restrictions:
Importers must obtain Quarantine Import Permits (QIP) prior to signing contracts with exporters. The quarantine requirements specified in the QIP must be written into the contract. Please work closely with your importer to verify compliance with this regulation.
A phytosanitary certificate (PC) is required. Packer/shipper registration is required. The lists are maintained by the Northwest Fruit Exporters.
Sweet Cherries:
Fruit must be certified in accordance with the Work Plan for the Exportation of Sweet Cherries from the States of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Packing facilities/lines must be inspected by a state inspector prior to packing for China.
Apples:
Growers and packers must comply with the Operational Work Plan for the Export of Apples from the United States to the People’s Republic of China.
Pears:
European pear varieties (Pyrus communis) may be exported to China. Growers and packers must comply with the pear export work plan.
For further information contact:
Northwest Fruit Exporters
NFE@nwhort.org
509-453-3193
E. Other Requirements:
Ports of Entry
Apples: Guangzhou, Shanghai, Dalian, Beijing, Haikou, Xiamen, Fuzhou, Qingdao, Tianjin, Nanjing, Shekou, and Yanitain.
Facility Registration
Apple, cherry, and pear packers are exempt from the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic and China’s (GACC) foreign food facility registration requirements (Decree 248).
On December 1, 2021, the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) published GAIN Report CH2021-0143 with updated Decree 248 information stating verbal confirmation that “Fresh fruit producers do not need to register or label registration numbers on packages.” The GAIN report is located here.
VI. MARKETING REPRESENTATIVES FOR PACIFIC NORTHWEST TREE FRUIT INDUSTRY
Washington Apple Commission:
Joann Shen
E-mail: bee71us@yahoo.com
Northwest Cherry Growers:
Victor Wang
Shanghai Miao Wang Consulting
E-mail: wang522808@126.com
Pear Bureau Northwest:
Philander Fan
Marketing Plus
Voice: 852-2554-1600
E-mail: pfmk@netvigator.com
VII. OTHER RESOURCE LINKS
Governmental:
Private:
VIII. ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
The Peoples Republic of China (PRC) officially became the World Trade Organization’s 143rd member on December 11, 2001. January 1, 2002, was the effective date of this new trade status for the PRC.
