China has extended zero-tariff access to imports from 53 African countries with which it maintains diplomatic ties, deepening trade relations and boosting export opportunities across the continent. The policy removes duties previously ranging from 8% to 30%, giving products like cocoa, coffee, and fruit a stronger foothold in the Chinese market. It builds on earlier exemptions for Africa’s 33 least developed countries. A symbolic first shipment of South African apples cleared customs in Shenzhen on May 1. Officials say the policy will also incentivize investment in African processing industries, nudging economies away from raw material dependency—a structural shift that could reshape the continent’s industrial trajectory over the coming decade.
Anadolu Ajansi
