China enacts zero-tariff for African goods

China’s Ministry of Commerce said a zero-tariff program for 53 African countries took effect on May 1, extending duty-free treatment across all African states that have diplomatic ties with Beijing. The measure covers products that previously faced tariffs including Kenyan avocados and coffee, South African citrus and wine, and cocoa from Ghana and Ivory Coast, according to a Commerce Ministry question-and-answer published on April 29. China’s foreign ministry said on May 22 that the rollout is being paired with upgraded “green lanes” for African agricultural and food imports, streamlined quarantine clearance and other trade-facilitation steps. The policy was first announced by President Xi Jinping in a message to the African Union summit on February 14, according to the Commerce Ministry. ### Which countries are newly covered by the May 1 move? The Commerce Ministry said 33 African countries were already receiving zero-tariff treatment as least developed countries, after China expanded that program to 100% of tariff lines on December 1, 2024. The May 1 measure applies to the remaining 20 African diplomatic partners that are not classified as least developed countries, using preferential tariff rates for a two-year period. (mofcom.gov.cn) The 20 countries listed by the ministry are Algeria, Botswana, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Libya, Mauritius, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Seychelles, South Africa, Tunisia and Zimbabwe. The ministry said that with that step, “all African countries having diplomatic relations with China” are now covered. (mofcom.gov.cn) ### Which products did Beijing single out? The Commerce Ministry used several examples of goods that will now enter China at zero tariff if they meet rules-of-origin and inspection requirements. It said cocoa from Ivory Coast and Ghana had faced tariffs of 8% to 22%, Kenyan coffee 8% to 30%, Kenyan avocados 20%, South African citrus 12%, and South African wine 14% to 20% before the change. (mofcom.gov.cn) The ministry framed the measure as a way to lower the cost of African products entering the Chinese market and widen supply for Chinese consumers. In a May 12 article, China’s ambassador to Kenya, Guo Haiyan, said the policy would raise the competitiveness of African products in China and expand the scale and profitability of African exports. (mofcom.gov.cn) ### What are the “green lanes” and streamlined procedures? Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on May 22 that China has upgraded “green lanes” for African agricultural and food imports, streamlined quarantine clearance procedures and introduced tiered, risk-based management measures. Guo said those steps were intended to turn the zero-tariff policy into “tangible benefits” for exporters. (mofcom.gov.cn) Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian had said on April 29 that China would also upgrade the green lanes for African agricultural and food products and continue negotiating economic partnership agreements for shared development with African countries. The Commerce Ministry said African countries would still need to keep negotiating those agreements with China to secure long-term, stable and institutionalized zero-tariff treatment. (mfa.gov.cn) ### Why is Beijing describing this as broader than a tariff cut? The Commerce Ministry said China had become the first major economy to grant unilateral, comprehensive zero-tariff treatment to all African diplomatic partners and to all least developed countries with which it has diplomatic relations. It said the measure was an interim and pioneering arrangement for the 20 non-LDC African countries while broader economic partnership negotiations continue. (mfa.gov.cn) China’s ambassador to Kenya said China-Africa trade reached $348 billion in 2025, up 17.7% from a year earlier, and said China had remained Africa’s largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years. Those figures were cited by Guo Haiyan in the May 12 article as Beijing promoted the tariff rollout to African exporters. ### What comes next for exporters and governments? (mofcom.gov.cn) May 22 is the latest public marker in the rollout, with the foreign ministry saying green-lane and quarantine measures are now in place for African agricultural and food products. The Commerce Ministry said the temporary two-year tariff arrangement for the 20 non-LDC African countries will run alongside continued negotiations on economic partnership agreements for shared development. (mfa.gov.cn 1) (mfa.gov.cn 2)