On December 1, 2019, the Protocol on Amending the Free Trade Agreement Between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan (hereinafter referred to as the Protocol) came into effect. At present, China and Pakistan have completed the relevant domestic procedures, and tariff reduction arrangements of the Protocol will be implemented from January 1, 2020.

According to the Protocol, after the implementation of the tariff reduction arrangements, the proportion of the tariff items of products with zero tariff between China and Pakistan will gradually increase from 35% to 75%. In addition, both parties will implement a 20% tariff reduction on other products that account for 5% of their respective tariff items. Specific tariff reduction arrangements can be found at the China Free Trade Zone Service Website.

The implementation of the tariff reduction arrangements of the Protocol will further expand the opening up of the markets between the two countries, enable enterprises and consumers of the two countries to enjoy more preferential treatment, and push the construction of the China-Pakistan Free Trade Zone onto a new stage.