BEIJING, June 24 -- China's Ministry of Finance said Wednesday that the country would grant zero tariff status to 4,762 categories of commodities now imported from 33 of the world's least developed countries beginning July 1.

The countries include 26 African countries and seven from other regions. These include Ethiopia, Benin, Burundi, Guinea Ecuatorial, Maldives, Nepal and Bangladesh.

Imports to China, including aquatic products, textiles, farm produce, glass products, steel and minerals from these 33 countries, are to be exempted from tariffs.

Since 2001, China has put 41 of the world's least developed countries on its zero-tariffs list.