China will implement a zero tariff regime for imports from 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic relations, starting May 1, 2026, state media reported on Saturday (14), in a move that extends Beijing’s preferential trade regime to the entire continent.
According to Business Insider Africa, China has decided to apply zero tariffs to imports from 53 African countries, in a decision that comes amid persistent uncertainty over the renewal of the US African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and ongoing trade tensions between African countries and the European Union (EU) over Economic Partnership Agreements.
The decision is the result of sustained diplomatic engagement by African leaders. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa recently traveled to China to promote trade negotiations.
Subsequently, a non-binding framework agreement was signed by South African Minister of Trade, Industry, and Competition Parks Tau and Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao during a meeting of the Joint Economic and Trade Commission, making South Africa the 33rd African country to conclude such an agreement.
Negotiations on an Early Harvest Agreement are expected to be completed by March 2026. Once finalized, the agreement will guarantee zero-tariff access for South African exports to the Chinese market.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has also repeatedly called for measures to correct structural imbalances in trade between China and African economies.
Trade growth continues, but imbalance persists
Trade between China and Africa has grown rapidly but remains heavily unbalanced. Bilateral trade reached $222.5 billion between January and August 2025, a year-on-year increase of 15.4%, according to China’s General Administration of Customs.
Chinese exports to Africa increased by 24.7% to $140.79 billion in the first eight months of 2025, while imports from Africa grew by only 2.3% to $81.25 billion in the same period.
Africa’s trade deficit with China widened to $59.55 billion in the first eight months of 2025, approaching the total annual deficit for 2024, which was $61.93 billion.
This imbalance reflects Africa’s dependence on raw materials such as crude oil, copper, cobalt, and iron ore, while importing higher value-added manufactured goods from China. Until now, duty-free access applied only to certain African countries. Beijing had granted zero tariff treatment to 98% of tariff lines for 33 least developed African countries (LDCs) before extending this coverage in 2024 to all products originating in African LDCs.
The new measure extends this regime to almost the entire continent, granting duty-free access to all African countries except Eswatini, which maintains diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
Mineral resources accounted for about 40% of Chinese imports from African LDCs in 2023, followed by non-food raw materials and semi-processed goods.
Chinese exports included machinery, electronic equipment, and renewable energy equipment. Africa imported 15,032 megawatts of Chinese solar panels between July 2024 and June 2025, an increase of 60% over the previous 12 months.
Strategic positioning and revenue compensation
Beijing says the zero-tariff regime is designed to boost African exports and rebalance trade flows.
Economists estimate that China will forego around $1.4 billion in customs revenue under the expanded regime, bolstering its economic diplomacy and soft power on the continent.
The move also positions China in contrast to Western trade programs. The EU’s Everything But Arms scheme offers duty-free access only to LDCs, while African countries not classified as LDCs must negotiate Economic Partnership Agreements.
The US African Growth and Opportunity Act grants selective duty-free access but remains subject to periodic renewals and possible suspensions.
Structural constraints remain
Despite the elimination of tariffs, analysts warn that structural barriers remain. Non-tariff barriers, including regulatory standards, logistical limitations, and financing gaps, continue to constrain African exporters’ ability to penetrate the Chinese market.
Beijing has committed to implementing additional trade facilitation measures, including dedicated funds and financial products to support companies operating in Africa.
Although tariffs may fall to zero, reducing the trade deficit will depend on the ability of African economies to diversify their exports beyond raw materials and to develop competitive industrial capacity.
