Africa-China Trade Jumps 18% in 2025 as US Aid Cuts Push Nations Toward Beijing
Updated
Updated · Semafor · Jun 19
Africa-China Trade Jumps 18% in 2025 as US Aid Cuts Push Nations Toward Beijing
3 articles · Updated · Semafor · Jun 19
Summary
Africa-China trade rose 18% in 2025 after Beijing scrapped tariffs on African imports, according to new data.
That increase is also expanding yuan use in cross-border commerce, advancing a core Chinese goal to raise the currency’s international role.
US aid cuts and threats of steep new tariffs have accelerated the shift, giving Beijing more leverage as both powers compete for influence in Africa.
Africa’s mineral wealth remains central to that contest, with trade policy and financing increasingly shaping which outside power gains ground on the continent.
Is Africa trading US influence for a new economic dependency on China?
As the US and China race for critical minerals, can African nations truly benefit from their rivalry?
Is China's push for the yuan in Africa the first major crack in the US dollar’s global dominance?
Africa-China Trade Booms 27% in 2025: Zero-Tariff Policy, Growing Deficits, and the Shift from West to East
Overview
In 2025, Africa-China economic ties accelerated sharply as China introduced a sweeping zero-tariff policy for all 53 African countries with diplomatic relations. This policy, effective from May 1, eliminated tariff barriers and significantly lowered costs for African exports, making African goods more competitive in the vast Chinese market. As a result, Africa became China’s fastest-growing export market, with Chinese exports to Africa rising by 27 percent year over year. These strategic policy shifts and the changing global landscape drove a surge in bilateral trade, reshaping trade flows and deepening economic engagement between the two regions.