China scraps import tariffs for 53 African countries until 2028
Updated
Updated · The Independent · May 1
China scraps import tariffs for 53 African countries until 2028
12 articles · Updated · The Independent · May 1
The policy took effect Friday, adds 20 countries to 33 least-developed states already covered, and leaves Eswatini excluded because it recognises Taiwan.
Beijing says duty-free access will make African goods more competitive, benefiting exports such as cocoa, coffee, citrus, wine and avocados, while encouraging investment in processing industries.
China, Africa’s biggest trading partner, imported more than £90bn of African goods in 2025, but analysts say weak industrial capacity, logistics and commodity dependence may limit gains.
Is China's zero-tariff policy a gift for African development or a strategic dependency trap?
How is China weaponizing trade to systematically dismantle Taiwan's last diplomatic footholds in Africa?