China scraps tariffs on 53 African nations in push to deepen trade ties
The policy extends zero-tariff treatment beyond the 33 least-developed African countries previously covered, opening access to nearly the entire continent
China has announced a major expansion of its duty-free policy for Africa, scrapping tariffs on goods from 53 countries across the continent from May 2026 through April 2028, in a move that underscores Beijing's push to deepen economic ties with the region.
The policy extends zero-tariff treatment beyond the 33 least-developed African countries previously covered, opening access to nearly the entire continent. Eswatini remains the sole exception, as it maintains diplomatic relations with Taiwan rather than Beijing, says the BBC.
Analysts say the exclusion reflects political considerations, with one noting it is intended to "weaponise" ties and signal that closer relations with China come with conditions.
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The announcement comes as China seeks to position itself as a trade liberaliser and a key economic partner for Africa, contrasting with recent tariff measures imposed by the United States on some African nations.
Despite the expanded access, trade between China and Africa remains heavily imbalanced. Africa's trade deficit with China widened by 65% last year to about $102 billion, according to available data.
African exports to China are largely concentrated in raw materials and minerals, including crude oil, metallic ores and cobalt, while imports from China are dominated by manufactured goods. Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Africa are currently among the region's main trading partners with China.
Economists say the benefits of the new policy are likely to vary across sectors and countries. Agricultural exports — including coffee, nuts, tea, avocados and leather — could see gains, potentially supporting rural incomes.
More industrialised economies such as South Africa and Morocco are seen as better positioned to take advantage of the expanded market access in the near term.
However, analysts caution that tariff reductions alone may have limited impact. They point to "structural constraints" including limited industrial capacity, weak logistics and insufficient infrastructure as key barriers to increasing African exports.
Over the longer term, they say the policy's effectiveness will depend on whether African countries can use improved market access to diversify exports and move up the value chain, rather than continuing to rely on unprocessed raw materials.
