CHINA TO IMPLEMENT ZERO TARIFF POLICY ON 53 AFRICAN COUNTRIES

Mon 16 February 2026:

China will implement zero-tariff measures for the 53 African countries it has diplomatic relations with starting on May 1, Chinese state-run outlet CGTN reported Saturday.

Beijing “will continue negotiating and signing joint economic partnership agreements, and further expand market access for African exports through upgraded mechanisms such as the ‘green channel’,” said a statement.

The policy would appear to cover almost the entire continent, which has 54 countries.

The development comes as the African Union is holding its annual summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The two-day gathering is expected to review major security crises across Africa, including Sudan, the Sahel region, and Somalia, along with discussions of climate action, economic reform, and institutional strengthening.

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The new measure broadens the regime to nearly the entire continent, extending duty-free access to all African countries except Eswatini, which maintains diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

Trade growth continues but imbalance persists

Trade between China and Africa has grown rapidly but remains heavily skewed. Bilateral trade reached $222.05 billion between January and August 2025, up 15.4% year-on-year, according to China’s General Administration of Customs.

Chinese exports to Africa surged 24.7% to $140.79 billion, while imports from Africa rose just 2.3% to $81.25 billion.

Africa’s trade deficit with China widened to $59.55 billion in the first eight months of 2025, nearly matching the full-year 2024 deficit of $61.93 billion.

The imbalance reflects Africa’s reliance on raw materials such as crude oil, copper, cobalt and iron ore, while importing higher value-added manufactured goods from China.

Strategic positioning and revenue trade-off

Beijing says the zero-tariff regime is designed to boost African exports and rebalance trade flows.

Economists estimate China will forgo around $1.4 billion in tariff revenue under the expanded scheme, strengthening its economic diplomacy and soft power on the continent.

The move also positions China in contrast with Western trade programmes. The European Union’s “Everything But Arms” scheme offers duty-free access only to LDCs, while non-LDC African countries must negotiate Economic Partnership Agreements.

The United States’ African Growth and Opportunity Act provides selective duty-free access but remains subject to periodic renewal and potential suspension.

Source: Independent Press and News Agencies

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