China Scraps Tariffs on African Imports in Major Expansion of Trade Policy

China has removed tariffs on imports from nearly all African countries in a major expansion of its trade policy, strengthening economic ties with the continent while reshaping long-standing trade patterns. The decision, which took effect on May 1, 2026, grants zero-tariff access to goods from 53 of Africa’s 54 countries with diplomatic relations with Beijing. The only exception is Eswatini, which maintains formal ties with Taiwan rather than mainland China. The policy is not entirely new. China had already extended duty-free access to 33 least-developed African countries in earlier phases. T

  China has removed tariffs on imports from nearly all African countries in a major expansion of its trade policy, strengthening economic ties with the continent while reshaping long-standing trade patterns. The decision, which took effect on May 1, 2026, grants zero-tariff access to goods from 53 of Africa’s 54 countries with diplomatic relations with Beijing. The only exception is Eswatini, which maintains formal ties with Taiwan rather than mainland China. The policy is not entirely new. China had already extended duty-free access to 33 least-developed African countries in earlier phases. The latest move significantly broadens the scheme to include Africa’s largest economies such as Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, Algeria and Kenya, marking a major shift in the scale of preferential access. Under the new framework, a wide range of African exports, including agricultural products, minerals and manufactured goods, will enter the Chinese market without customs duties. The policy will remain in effect for two years, running from May 1, 2026, to April 30, 2028, during which China is expected to negotiate longer-term trade arrangements with African states. China is already Africa’s largest trading partner. In 2025, bilateral trade reached a record $348 billion, with African exports to China accounting for $123 billion, highlighting a persistent trade imbalance even as volumes continue to grow. Officials in Beijing say the tariff removal is designed to encourage more balanced trade flows and support industrial development across African economies. The move also comes as global trade becomes increasingly fragmented, with developing economies seeking more stable access to major markets. Earlier phases of tariff liberalization had focused mainly on poorer African nations, but the latest expansion brings in more industrialized economies. Analysts say this could significantly increase Africa’s ability to export higher-value goods, though results will depend on production capacity and competitiveness. While the policy is framed as development-oriented, it also reinforces China’s strategic and economic influence across Africa, where it remains a dominant trade and infrastructure partner. For African exporters, the opening of full duty-free access to the Chinese market presents a significant opportunity, but also a test of whether supply chains and industrial output can scale to meet demand in the world’s second-largest economy.