In a bold move that redefines the landscape of international trade, China has announced the expansion of its zero-tariff policy to cover all imports from African countries maintaining diplomatic ties with Beijing. This new initiative elevates China’s long-standing commitment to African development into a new phase of economic partnership.
Previously, only the continent’s least-developed countries (LDCs) benefited from duty-free access to the Chinese market. However, Chinese President Xi Jinping has now extended the privilege to all 53 African nations with formal ties to China, granting “zero-tariff treatment for 100% of tariff lines.”
A Strategic Pivot Amid Global Trade Tensions
This development is more than a gesture of goodwill—it’s a calculated move in China’s wider strategy to strengthen economic alliances across Africa amid its ongoing trade war with the United States.
The announcement follows commitments made during the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in September, where China pledged greater access for African goods. Since then, Chinese exports to Africa have soared by 12.4%, reaching ¥963 billion ($134 billion) in just the first five months of the year, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
China vs. the U.S.: Competing Trade Visions for Africa
The timing of China’s zero-tariff expansion is no accident. Over 30 African countries are facing uncertainty under the U.S. African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)—a preferential trade framework that is increasingly at risk of being scaled back or scrapped entirely.
The Trump-era posture of tariff reciprocity has cast long shadows over AGOA’s future, leaving many African economies searching for reliable partners. Beijing’s move positions China as a more predictable, long-term ally in contrast to Washington’s shifting policies.
As global trade negotiations between the U.S. and China continue in London, developing economies like those in Africa are being forced to recalibrate their alliances, with China offering a compelling alternative.
Nigeria Pushes for Greater Inclusion
On the African front, Nigeria is seizing the moment. During the Ministerial Meeting of Coordinators on FOCAC Follow-up Actions in Changsha, Hunan Province, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, appealed for the full inclusion of Nigeria in the zero-tariff framework.
Tuggar emphasized the importance of easing export access for Nigerian agricultural produce and mineral resources, aligning it with one of the ten key partnership priorities outlined in China-Africa cooperation plans.
He also raised concerns about Africa’s potential marginalization in fast-growing sectors like Artificial Intelligence and satellite technology, urging China to ensure Africa remains a part of global digital and scientific progress.
A New Chapter in Africa–China Relations
As Western influence in African trade policy wanes, China is stepping into a role many view as not just strategic—but transformational. For African economies seeking stability, infrastructure development, and market access, China’s full tariff exemption could be a game-changer.
