China has unveiled plans to eliminate tariffs on all imports from African countries with which it maintains diplomatic relations, marking a significant shift in its trade policy.
This move broadens an earlier initiative that granted zero-tariff status only to the continent’s least-developed nations.
In a letter addressed to African foreign ministers, Chinese President, Xi Jinping, announced that all 53 African countries with official diplomatic ties to Beijing will now enjoy “zero-tariff treatment for 100% of tariff lines.”
China has not said when the decision will come into effect.
China’s Strategy for Africa
The policy is part of China’s broader effort to strengthen economic partnerships across Africa amid ongoing trade tensions with the United States.
It builds on commitments made at a China-Africa summit IN September 2024, where 33 least-developed African countries were first granted duty-free access to the Chinese market.
The impact is already visible. Chinese exports to Africa rose by 12.4% in the first five months of 2025, reaching a record 963 billion yuan ($134 billion), according to China’s Foreign Ministry.
China 🇨🇳 Now Approves Zero Tariffs for 12 African Countries for 98% of Taxable Imports
🇧🇯🇧🇫🇬🇼🇱🇸🇲🇼🇸🇹🇹🇿🇺🇬🇿🇲🇩🇯🇹🇬🇷🇼
Data shows China was one of Africa’s largest bilateral trading partners with a 20-fold increase in trade over the last two decades.https://t.co/vpTLe5SQUW pic.twitter.com/C8cytLc92X
— BitKE (@BitcoinKE) January 17, 2023
Shifting Global Trade Dynamics
The announcement comes as more than 30 African countries face the risk of losing duty-free privileges under the U.S. African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) – a key trade program that has faced growing scrutiny.
During his presidency, Donald Trump had signaled interest in applying reciprocal tariffs to all U.S. trade partners, casting doubt on the longevity of AGOA and similar preferential agreements.
Beijing’s latest move positions China as a more consistent and predictable trade partner, especially as global trade dynamics become increasingly polarized. While the U.S. and China continue trade negotiations – the latest held in London this week – developing economies, including many in Africa, are reassessing and diversifying their alliances.
The expanded list will include some of China’s largest trading partners on the continent, including South Africa and Nigeria.
Eswatini is the only African state excluded from the s zero-tariff announcement as it recognises Taiwan as an independent country, whereas China regards it as a breakaway province.
China currently imports a lot of raw materials from Africa, notably from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Guinea.
China 🇨🇳 to Account for 1/3 of Global Economic Growth in 2023, Says the IMF
China is expected to play a significant role in boosting the global economy by contributing to about one-third of the world’s growth in 2023, Kristalina Georgieva, Managing https://t.co/BiwcWbHcRg… pic.twitter.com/dvRa1KxDy8
— BitKE (@BitcoinKE) March 28, 2023
Nigeria’s Appeal
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, urged China to ensure Nigeria’s inclusion in the expanded zero-tariff framework to support the country’s export ambitions, particularly in agriculture and mineral resources.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Ministerial Meeting of Coordinators on the Implementation of FOCAC Follow-up Actions in Changsha, Hunan Province, Tuggar emphasized that full zero-tariff treatment is one of the ten key partnership actions under the China-Africa cooperation agenda for modernization.
He also raised concerns about Africa’s participation in emerging sectors such as Artificial Intelligence and satellite technology, stressing that Nigeria and the continent should not be excluded from these transformative developments.
🇨🇳 STABLECOINS | Chinese Warns on Potential of #Stablecoins to Consolidate Dollar Hegemony
One approach offered is China to broaden its influence by introducing ‘global application scenarios’ through Chinese platforms.
Learn more: https://t.co/2EWv3H59HH pic.twitter.com/8k8oCXA7Tp
— BitKE (@BitcoinKE) April 8, 2025
Join and interact with our Telegram community
___________________________________________
