CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — A China Policies for Africa’s largest economy Tariff-free access Tariffs on its market for the next two years went into effect on Friday, as economic rival the United States looks to impose new import duties under President Donald Trump. Promote protectionism.
The agreement with China covers Africa’s 20 largest economies. South AfricaEgypt, NigeriaAlgeria and Kenya. China has already lifted tariffs on 33 poorer African countries, meaning 53 out of 54 countries on the continent are eligible for “tariff-free treatment” on their products, according to China.
Countries that are not covered are small country eswatini Taiwan is the only country in Africa that maintains formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
China claims to be helpful for mutual development
China’s State Council Customs Commission said the agreement will promote joint development between China and Africa. China’s official Xinhua news agency said 24 tonnes of apples from South Africa, which passed through customs in Shenzhen early Friday, were the first items imported under the new zero-tariff policy.
According to Xinhua News Agency, China’s Ministry of Commerce said that it will particularly benefit African products such as: Cacao from Ivory Coast Coffee and avocados from Ghana and Kenya, and citrus fruits and wine from South Africa were previously subject to tariffs ranging from 8% to 30%.
Ivory Coast is by far the world’s largest producer of cocoa, with Ivory Coast and Ghana accounting for over 50% of the world’s supply. South Africa is a major exporter of citrus fruits.
African countries turning away from the US
Several of Africa’s major economies said they would look for new markets for some of their U.S.-bound products. After the Trump administration imposed reciprocal tariffs. A year ago, it was at one point 30% in South Africa, Africa’s leading economy, and over 40% in other African countries.
“South Africa looks forward to working with China in a friendly, pragmatic and flexible manner,” South African Trade Minister Parkes Tau said during bilateral talks in China in February.
On the other hand, the U.S. Supreme Court rescinded President Trump’s sweeping global tariffs In February, the Republican president said his administration had a “very strong alternative” and immediately introduced a temporary import tax to replace it.
China is already Africa’s largest trading partner. Africa has a population of 1.5 billion people, and according to the United Nations, the population is expected to nearly double to 2.5 billion by 2050, making Africa home to more than a quarter of the world’s population.
China controls a large trade imbalance with Africa
Although China praised the tariff-free agreement as promoting common development, there is a large trade imbalance between China and Africa, and African countries China has billions in debt repayment.
Trade between China and Africa reached a record high of $348 billion in 2025, but while China’s exports to Africa increased by about 25% to $225 billion, imports from Africa increased by about 5% to $123 billion, widening Africa’s trade deficit.
China has long imported raw materials from Africa and sent manufactured goods back. Thierry Perrault, a China-Africa expert at France’s National Center for Scientific Research, said while the new policy may bring some benefits to agricultural products, most of Africa’s raw material exports, such as oil and minerals, already have tariff-free access to China.
“[Chinese leader]Xi Jinping has positioned China as the antithesis of Western protectionism. This gesture is aimed at appealing to both African public opinion and global markets,” Perot said in an assessment published by the China Global South Project, which analyzes China’s relations with poor countries.
But the policy “applies only when there is little cost to (China),” Perot wrote.
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AP Africa News: https://apnews.com/hub/Africa
