China has officially eliminated all tariffs on imports from African countries as part of its newly launched China-Africa Economic Partnership for Shared Development. The policy aims to enhance Africa’s role in global trade by boosting market access, streamlining customs processes, and building institutional capacity for trade across the continent.
The Chinese government stated that the initiative supports African industrialisation, encourages diversification beyond raw materials, and reinforces long-term economic cooperation.
President Xi Jinping affirmed China’s commitment to welcoming all African exports under zero-tariff terms. He also announced plans to improve customs and logistics collaboration, offer capacity-building programmes, and help increase visibility of high-quality African goods in China’s domestic market.
In 2024, China–Africa trade hit nearly $300 billion, maintaining China’s status as Africa’s largest trading partner. Analysts say the new tariff policy could complement the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by encouraging intra-African value chains and broader export diversification.
This move is expected to open new doors for African businesses to export value-added products and services, further integrating the continent into global supply networks.
