China has announced it is ready to drop all tariffs on imports from all 53 African nations with which it maintains diplomatic relations. The zero-tariff pledge, revealed during a China-Africa cooperation meeting, extends a 2023 initiative that granted tariff-free access to goods from 33 “least developed” African countries.
This expansion could prove pivotal for African economies, especially as many face looming trade barriers in the U.S. under the Trump administration. In April, President Donald Trump announced steep tariffs on imports from several African countries including 50% for Lesotho, 30% for South Africa, and 14% for Nigeria. Although implementation has been temporarily paused, the threat remains, casting uncertainty over the future of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa), which currently provides some African goods with tariff-free access to the U.S. market.
China’s move appears strategically timed. Africa exported approximately $170 billion worth of goods to China in 2023, making the Asian powerhouse the continent’s largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years. Key exports include raw materials such as copper and cobalt from the Democratic Republic of Congo, and bauxite from Guinea.
A joint ministerial statement issued during the cooperation summit criticized unnamed countries clearly referencing the U.S. for disrupting the global trade system through unilateral tariffs. It called on Washington to resolve trade disputes on the basis of “equality, respect, and mutual benefit.”
Notably excluded from China’s tariff waiver is Eswatini, the only African country that maintains diplomatic ties with Taiwan, which Beijing considers a breakaway province.
While China has not set a specific implementation date for the zero-tariff policy, the announcement underscores its long-term commitment to African markets. For many African nations now facing potential economic headwinds from the West, the promise of expanded duty-free access to China’s vast consumer base could help offset potential losses and reshape trade dynamics on the continent.
