Africa to Gain Duty-Free Entry into Chinese Market under Landmark Trade Deal

In a landmark announcement that could reshape Africa’s global trade landscape, China has pledged to eliminate tariffs on imports from all 53 African countries with which it maintains diplomatic ties, as part of a broader China-Africa Economic Partnership for Shared Development.

The move, revealed during a ministerial meeting in Changsha, central China, expands on existing arrangements that had previously applied only to Africa’s least developed countries (LDCs), such as Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Mali. The new deal will now include middle-income nations like Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, and Kenya—economies with growing manufacturing capabilities and export potential.

The decision was welcomed across the continent as a step toward rebalancing a trade relationship that remains heavily skewed in China’s favour. In 2024, China posted a $62 billion trade surplus with Africa, largely driven by imports of African raw materials.

“Our goal is to welcome quality products from Africa into the Chinese market,” said China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, reiterating President Xi Jinping’s commitment to expanding China’s economic opening to Africa.

The offer will become effective once African states sign the proposed agreement, according to a joint statement released at the ministerial session held under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

Levelling the Playing Field

Under the current framework, African LDCs already enjoy duty- and quota-free access to Chinese markets. However, this created internal disparities, disadvantaging more advanced African economies that had been excluded from the preferential treatment.

“It’s a structural shift,” said Hannah Ryder, CEO of Development Reimagined, a China-based Africa-focused consultancy. “Middle-income countries with a stronger production base now get the same access, helping Africa diversify away from raw materials.”

Analysts believe the policy shift could catalyse a rise in value-added exports, such as processed foods, textiles, and electronics, from Africa to China—expanding beyond the continent’s traditional reliance on raw minerals and agricultural products.

Support for Least Developed Countries

To ensure that LDCs are not outcompeted under the new arrangement, China has committed to additional support for these countries. Measures include inspection and quarantine training, marketing promotion assistance, and capacity building in customs and logistics.

“We are not just opening the market—we are helping African partners build the capacity to take advantage of it,” a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said.

African delegates at the meeting echoed this sentiment, expressing optimism that the expanded access would complement the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by boosting intra-African trade competitiveness on the global stage.

Geopolitical Undercurrents

The announcement also comes amid intensifying global trade tensions, particularly between China and the United States. The joint ministerial communiqué criticised “unilateralism, protectionism and economic bullying,” an apparent reference to recent U.S. tariff increases on African goods.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration has imposed tariffs of up to 50% on imports from some African nations, including Lesotho, South Africa and Nigeria, and the future of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)—the U.S.’s main preferential trade agreement with Africa—remains uncertain.

“There is no doubt that China has been forced into cultivating more Global South markets as a result of trade tensions with the United States,” said Kenyan analyst Adhere Cavince.

eSwatini is the only African country excluded from China’s zero-tariff pledge due to its diplomatic recognition of Taiwan, which Beijing considers a breakaway province.

Opportunities and Challenges Ahead

Despite the promise of expanded access, African exporters still face several barriers, including logistics, language, e-commerce infrastructure, and compliance with China’s phytosanitary and technical standards.

“Tariff removal alone is not enough,” said Lauren Johnston, Associate Professor at the University of Sydney’s China Studies Centre. “Market entry still depends on supply chain readiness and regulatory compliance.”

She added that technical assistance and skills development should be prioritised to ensure that African nations can make full use of the agreement.

With Africa-China trade reaching nearly $300 billion in 2024—vastly outpacing the $71.6 billion Africa-U.S. trade volume—the new initiative marks a decisive shift in global trade dynamics and presents African economies with an opportunity to redefine their export portfolios and trade partnerships.

Looking Ahead

While China has not specified when the new policy will come into force, officials say implementation will follow once African nations complete negotiations and sign the agreement.

The expanded zero-tariff access could be transformative—if paired with investment in logistics, training, and quality control. It represents a rare moment of alignment between African ambition and external opportunity.

For Africa’s middle-income nations especially, it could be the key to entering one of the world’s largest consumer markets on a level playing field.