China Expands Zero-Tariff Access to 53 African Nations

In a major policy shift aimed at strengthening China-Africa trade relations, the Chinese government has announced a sweeping plan to eliminate tariffs on imports from 53 African countries that maintain formal diplomatic relations with Beijing. The move, which excludes Eswatini, Africa’s sole country that recognizes Taiwan marks an expansion of China’s long-standing trade engagement on the continent.

The announcement was made following high-level discussions in Changsha, Hunan Province, where Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with African counterparts. The talks are part of ongoing efforts to deepen economic ties under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), amid rising global trade tensions.

Under this new policy, all 53 eligible African countries will benefit from “zero-tariff treatment for 100% of tariff lines,” a dramatic extension of an earlier framework that only favored the continent’s least-developed nations. Chinese President Xi Jinping communicated the decision through a formal letter addressed to African foreign ministers, positioning China as a reliable trade partner at a time when global trade dynamics are shifting.

The joint China-Africa statement issued after the meeting took a firm stance on international trade fairness. It called on global powers specifically the United States to resolve trade disagreements through respectful dialogue. The message comes in response to recent U.S. tariffs, including levies of up to 50% on imports from Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, Botswana, and South Africa.

China’s zero-tariff offer is viewed as a calculated move to boost imports from Africa while also offering a reprieve to Chinese state-owned enterprises facing waning demand at home. The policy underscores Beijing’s broader strategy of leveraging economic partnerships to solidify its influence across the continent.

Recent trade figures suggest the strategy is already bearing fruit: Chinese exports to Africa surged by 12.4% in the first five months of the year, reaching a record 963 billion yuan (approximately $134 billion), according to China’s Foreign Ministry.

In contrast, over 30 African countries now face the possibility of losing preferential access to the U.S. market under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), as Washington reviews its commitment to the agreement. With growing uncertainty around AGOA’s future, China’s new initiative may prove more appealing to African nations looking for dependable trade allies.

On the sidelines of the FOCAC Ministerial Meeting, Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, emphasized the importance of including Nigeria in the full spectrum of the zero-tariff initiative. He noted that the policy could significantly boost Nigerian exports, especially in agriculture and mineral resources. Tuggar also advocated for African inclusion in rapidly advancing sectors such as artificial intelligence and satellite technology, areas he described as critical to the continent’s modernization agenda.

As the global trade landscape becomes increasingly polarized, China’s offer could signal a new chapter in Africa’s evolving economic alliances, with long-term implications for development, investment, and strategic partnerships.