US EditionChina's Tariff-Free Bridge for Shared Prosperity with Africa
The policy covers Africa’s 20 largest economies and started with 24 metric tons of South African apples cleared in Shenzhen, Xinhua said.
- On Friday, China implemented a policy granting tariff-free access to its market for Africa's 20 largest economies, positioning itself against Western protectionism amid President Donald Trump's push for new import taxes.
- The Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council confirmed 53 of Africa's 54 nations are now eligible for "tariff-free treatment," though Eswatini remains ineligible because it maintains formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan.
- Xinhua News Agency reported a shipment of 24 metric tons of South African apples cleared customs in Shenzhen on Friday, marking the first goods entering under the new policy.
- While African nations seek new markets after President Donald Trump imposed reciprocal tariffs, a significant trade imbalance persists; China-Africa trade reached a record $348 billion in 2025, though imports from Africa increased by only around 5 percent.
- Thierry Pairault, a China-Africa expert at France's National Center for Scientific Research, noted the policy benefits agricultural products like cocoa and wine, though most raw material exports already enjoyed tariff-free access to China.
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Santa Maria Times
Independent EspañolCAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — China's policy granting Africa's largest economies tariff-free access to its market for the next two years took effect Friday, while its economic rival, the United States,…
Data from the General Customs Administration reveal that trade between China and 53 African countries reached $348.080 million in 2025, a record figure for bilateral trade.
China drops tariffs on all African nations except Eswatini
A Chinese policy giving African nations tariff-free access to its market came into effect on Friday. The deal lasts two years and covers 53 of the continent’s 54 nations. Only Eswatini is excluded over its ongoing ties with Taiwan.
China's tariff-free bridge for shared prosperity with Africa
May 1 marks a historic milestone in global trade. From this day forward to April 30, 2028, China will grant zero-tariff treatment, in the form of preferential tariff rates, to all 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic ties, becoming the first major economy to provide such a unilateral, full-coverage arrangement to all African countries with diplomatic ties, and to all least developed countries with diplomatic relations.
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