Amid rising tariffs imposed by the Donald Trump administration, China is responding by extending its zero-tariff policy to African exports, eliminating customs duties for almost all countries on the continent.
Xi Jinping and Donald Trump, opponents in the tariff war. PHOTO: AFP
China will eliminate customs duties on imports from all African countries with which it has diplomatic relations starting May 1, 2026, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Saturday, according to reports by the international news agency Agence France-Presse, cited by the News.
The only exception to this policy will be Eswatini, the African state that still maintains formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
Until now, China had a zero-tariff policy for imports from 33 African countries, but Beijing announced its intention to extend this measure to all 53 African partners with which it collaborates diplomatically.
This decision comes in response to the increase in global tariffs decreed during the administration of Donald Trump, which have strained global trade relations and caused many countries to look for alternatives or new markets for exports.
China has long been Africa's most important trading partner and a major supporter of infrastructure projects on the continent, particularly through initiatives like the New Silk Roads.
By eliminating tariffs, Beijing hopes to boost trade and benefit African economies, while strengthening Chinese influence at a time of increasingly tough economic competition with Washington.
Eswatini's exception is because the country still diplomatically recognizes Taiwan, despite China's policy of claiming sovereignty over the island, separated from mainland China after the 1949 Chinese Civil War
The decision to eliminate customs duties for some 52 African states has been hailed by leaders on the continent as a move that will “undoubtedly provide new prospects for Africa's development”, as African heads of state gather in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for the annual African Union summit.
On the other hand, the extension of the zero-tariff policy is also seen in the light of economic competition with the United States, at a time when Beijing seeks to strengthen its global role and create new advantages for economic partners looking for alternative markets to higher American tariffs.
