China zero tariffs to apply 53 African countries imports

From May 1, 2026, China will grant zero-tariff access to imports from 53 African nations. This massive expansion opens China's huge market to African coffee, cocoa, minerals, textiles, more duty-free! Expect boosted exports, new jobs, stronger economies, and deeper South-South ties. Chinese importers certainly play an important role.

Look at this recent article from Reuters

China to implement zero tariffs on imports from 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic relations, starting May 1, 2026. China will also continue to push for the negotiation and signing of joint economic partnership pacts, and further expand market access for African exports to China.....See more from  Reuters here

And here is the real fact:

The policy applies to 100% of tariff lines for eligible countries, allowing products such as agricultural goods, minerals, and manufactured items to enter the Chinese market without import taxes.

It broadens a previous scheme that already covered 33 "least developed" countries (LDCs) to include major economies like South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, and Morocco, which previously faced tariffs up to 25%.

Announced by President Xi Jinping during the 39th African Union summit.

While the decision was initially discussed in mid-2025, it was officially confirmed in February 2026 to take effect on May 1, 2026.

Economists estimate China may forgo approximately $1.4 billion in annual tariff revenue to strengthen its economic diplomacy and "soft power" across Africa.

Beyond tariff removal, China has pledged to expand market access through "green channels" and the negotiation of further joint economic partnership pacts.

Here is what to know:

Specific agricultural or mineral products from a particular African country that are expected to benefit most from this tariff removal, such as:

South Africa: As Africa's largest exporter to China, South Africa stands to gain significantly on citrus fruits and wine. Previously, these faced tariffs that made it harder to compete with Chilean or Australian imports.

Kenya & Ethiopia: Coffee and cut flowers are the big winners here. China’s growing middle-class coffee culture is a massive untapped market for East African beans.

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) & Zambia: While raw minerals often had low tariffs, the zero-tariff policy encourages the export of semi-processed metals (like refined copper cathode), which helps these nations move up the value chain.

Egypt & Morocco: These countries have advanced textile and automotive parts sectors. Zero tariffs allow them to integrate more effectively into Chinese manufacturing supply chains.