China has finally decided to implement zero-tariff treatment for imports from 53 African countries, a move that comes in the wake of uncertainty surrounding the renewal of the United States’ African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and ongoing trade frictions between African nations and the European Union over Economic Partnership Agreements.
The policy was first announced during follow-up meetings to the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit; however, no implementation framework was in place at the time.
Initially, duty-free access applied only to selected African countries. Specifically, China had granted zero-tariff treatment on 97% to 98% of tariff lines for 33 African least developed countries (LDCs).
Subsequently, in 2024, this was expanded to cover all products from African LDCs.
The new measure now extends duty-free access to nearly the entire continent, covering all African countries except Eswatini, which maintains diplomatic ties with Taiwan.
Meanwhile, the move follows sustained diplomatic engagement by African leaders. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa recently visited China to discuss trade arrangements.
Thereafter, a non-binding framework was signed by South Africa’s Trade Minister Parks Tau and China’s Commerce Minister Wang Wentao, making South Africa the 33rd country to conclude such a framework.
An Early Harvest Agreement is expected by March 2026 and will grant zero-tariff access for South African exports.
Similarly, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has repeatedly called for measures to address trade imbalances between China and African economies.
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.
Mineral resources accounted for roughly 40% of China’s imports from African LDCs in 2023, followed by non-edible raw materials and semi-processed goods.
Chinese exports have included machinery, electronics and renewable energy equipment. Africa imported 15,032 megawatts of Chinese solar panels between July 2024 and June 2025, up 60% from the previous 12 months.
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.
Structural constraints remain
Despite the tariff removal, analysts caution that structural barriers remain. Non-tariff barriers, including regulatory standards, logistics constraints and financing gaps, continue to limit African exporters’ ability to penetrate the Chinese market.
Beijing has pledged additional trade facilitation measures, including dedicated funds and financial products to support enterprises operating in Africa.
While tariffs may fall to zero, narrowing the trade gap will depend on whether African economies can diversify exports beyond primary commodities and build competitive manufacturing capacity.
