China has announced plans to halt all tariffs on imports from 53 African regions as part of a new economic initiative aimed at boosting trade ties and supporting industrial growth across the continent.
The change was announced after a high-level meeting in Changsha where Chinese and African foreign ministers reviewed progress on the coherence made during the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) performance in Beijing.
China currently provides duty-free and quota-free access to most of Africa’s least developed countries (LDCs). The new arrangement will grant similar privileges to middle-income countries such as Kenya, Egypt, South Africa, Nigeria and Morocco, allowing these countries to expand exports of manufactured and value-added goods to vast Chinese markets.
“Our state is ready to accept quality products from Africa into its market,” the Chinese foreign ministry said after the talks.
China has also pledged additional support to address concerns that LDCs such as Tanzania and Mali are disadvantaged compared to more advanced African economies. This is complemented by education programs and marketing support to help protect LDCs.
Trade between China and Africa is growing somewhat, but the balance remains China’s business, with Beijing accounting for more than $62 billion last year. Analysts say boosting African exports is essential to reducing the trade deficit.
“If African exports do not grow at the same pace, they will continue to grow,” said Hannah Ryder, president of Africa-focused consultancy Development Reimagined. She added that tariffs could provide an opportunity for middle-income African countries to compete better and diversify their export bases.
During the 2024 FOCAC flow, China also pledged 360 billion yuan (about $50 billion) in loans and investments to the African economy over a three-year period, signaling the major power’s renewed commitment after the slowdown during the COVID-19 cycle.