China to tax foreign e-commerce sales

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, according to Caixin. From April 8, buyers of all imported goods purchased online must pay most of a 17% value-added tax and a consumption tax, if applicable, according to a policy released on March 24 by the Ministry of Finance. In the past, buyers would pay only a “postal articles tax” with rates ranging from the most common 10% to 50%. Goods imported in bulk through other channels are also subject to a tariff.