China’s initiative aims to address the imbalances that have long characterised bilateral trade relations. Its impact, however, may be limited given the low value of African exports to the Asian giant and their concentration in a small number of countries.

China will eliminate tariffs on all imports from African countries with which it has diplomatic ties from May 1, 2026, President Xi Jinping said on Saturday, February 14.

“Starting May 1, 2026, China will fully implement zero-tariff treatment for 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic relations,” Xi said in a message to African heads of state gathered in Addis Ababa for the 39th African Union summit.

He said the move would “create new opportunities for Africa’s development” and added that China was ready to deepen mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation.

The decision was first announced in June 2025, amid global trade disruptions triggered by tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. At the time, Beijing did not specify when the measure, aimed at rebalancing trade with the continent, would take effect.

China’s blanket duty-free offer applies to all its African trading partners except Eswatini, Taiwan’s last diplomatic ally on the continent. Since December 1, 2024, 33 African countries have already benefited from duty-free access under a scheme for least developed countries.

Middle-income economies such as Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt and Morocco, previously subject to Chinese tariffs of up to 25%, will gain duty-free access to the Chinese market for the first time.

Beyond its geopolitical implications, the initiative reflects Beijing’s effort to narrow its large trade surplus with Africa, which has drawn criticism in recent years.

A persistent trade imbalance

China has been Africa’s largest trading partner since 2008. Bilateral trade reached $348.05 billion in 2025, up 17.7% from 2024, according to China’s General Administration of Customs. Chinese exports to Africa rose 25.8% to $225.03 billion, while imports from the continent increased 5.4% to $123.02 billion.

Africa’s trade deficit with China widened 64.5% year-on-year in 2025 to a record $102.01 billion.

For about two decades, trade has been marked by a structural imbalance in Beijing’s favour. China mainly exports manufactured goods, including textiles, machinery and electronics, while importing largely low-value raw materials such as crude oil, ores and agricultural products.

African exports to China are also concentrated in a handful of countries, notably Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Africa.

Analysts say the zero-tariff initiative may have only a limited impact on rebalancing trade, given that many raw materials already benefit from specific tariff arrangements.

In a November 2025 report, the African Export-Import Bank, Afreximbank, said African countries would need broader reforms to fully capitalise on the measure. These include developing regional value chains in high-potential sectors such as agro-processing, light manufacturing and mineral processing; strengthening infrastructure and logistics corridors; aligning exports with changing Chinese consumer demand; and expanding trade finance tools, including export credit insurance and yuan-denominated loans.

Walid Kéfi