China has announced plans to remove all import tariffs for African countries it maintains diplomatic relations, as part of efforts to strengthen trade ties and open up its consumer market to Africa.
The move was unveiled this week during a China-Africa Economic and Trade Forum held in Changsha, Hunan Province. The new policy will apply to 53 African nations, excluding Eswatini, the only African country that maintains formal ties with Taiwan.
Officials say the zero-tariff offer will be finalised through negotiations and individual agreements with each participating country. While no official timeline has been established, implementation is expected to begin once the agreements are signed.
The policy is a significant expansion of China’s trade preferences, which previously focused on least-developed countries (LDCs). Since December 2024, China has already granted zero-tariff access to all tariff lines from African LDCs, boosting exports from countries such as Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Mali.
The proposed extension will now include middle-income African economies, such as Nigeria, Kenya, and Egypt. In addition to tariff removal, Chinese authorities have pledged further support to African exporters. This includes marketing assistance and technical training to help low-income countries become more competitive in the Chinese market.
The goal is to share development opportunities and promote inclusive globalisation,” said Li Fei, China’s Vice Minister of Commerce.
Trade data reflects that the scale of economic engagement between China and Africa is rapidly growing. Bilateral trade between China and African countries hit a record high of $295.6 billion in 2024. Trade in the first quarter of 2025 reached $72.6 billion, which marked a 2.7 per cent increase compared to the same period last year.
China’s trade surplus with Africa, however, remains over $60 billion. The new tariff policy is also seen as a strategy to rebalance trade flows and strengthen China’s influence across Africa amid rising global competition.
The trade measure also appears to be a response to growing trade tensions with the United States. In April, the U.S. imposed steep tariffs on goods from several African nations, including 50 per cent on Lesotho, 47 per cent on Madagascar, 40 per cent on Mauritius, 38 per cent on Botswana, and 31 per cent on South Africa.
Chinese officials criticised the U.S. tariff actions, calling them a threat to global trade fairness and a burden on African development. At the forum, African leaders joined China in urging the United States to return to trade negotiations rooted in respect and mutual benefit.
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