The Ministry of Finance announced Thursday China will raise export tariff rates on 25 categories of copper and its products as of April 10.

The ministry said the Tariff Committee of the State Council has decided to raise the provisional export tariff on refined copper and copper alloy from 5 to 10 percent and the tariff rate on copper products from zero to 10 percent.

The move is designed to limit the export of energy intensive and heavily polluting commodities said a ministry statement.

The move is the latest example of China's efforts to discourage exports of those commodities and therefore reduce pollution generally and ensure domestic supplies.

China abolished the export tax rebate for secondary aluminum alloy and raised the export tariff rates last year.

(Xinhua News Agency March 10, 2006)