South Africa’s trade with China has climbed sharply since Beijing began offering zero-tariff access to qualifying African goods in May. Despite the growth, Pretoria’s relationship with its biggest trading partner is lopsided. In 2025, South Africa exported approximately $13.5 billion in goods to China, but imported nearly twice that amount. To address this imbalance, South Africa is seeking to expand exports of agricultural goods, minerals, and higher-value manufactured products. Diversifying export markets has become especially important amid uncertainty over South Africa’s continued participation in the US African Growth and Opportunity Act, which offers duty-free access to the US market. While the US has extended the program through 2028, South African officials fear the country could eventually be excluded.