CHINA plans to reduce the average tariff rate on imports from most of its trading partners as soon as October, Bloomberg reported Thursday.

In July, China cut import tariffs on almost 1,500 consumer products ranging from cosmetics to home appliances as part of efforts to open up its economy, the world’s second biggest.

The move was in line with China’s pledge to its trading partners, including the United States, that it would take measures to further increase imports.

The Bloomberg report did not specify the countries that could enjoy lower Chinese tariffs.

At the World Economic Forum in the northern port city of Tianjin, Premier Li Keqiang said Wednesday that the government will continue to lower import tariffs on some goods. He did not elaborate.

The promise to further lower import tariffs came as China and the United States remained locked in a bitter trade dispute that has roiled financial markets and cast uncertainty over global supply chains.

On Tuesday, China added US$60 billion in U.S. products to its import tariff list in retaliation for U.S. President Donald Trump’s planned levies on US$200 billion in Chinese goods.

“By further cutting import taxes, China is sending a message that it will keep opening up and reform no matter how the trade spat goes. It’s more like a commitment to both domestic and international audience,” said Tommy Xie, an economist at Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp. in Singapore. (SD-Agencies)