Public Management

China eliminates tariffs on 98% of imports from six African nations

China eliminates tariffs on 98% of imports from six African nations
Wednesday, 06 December 2023 18:52

Despite lifting tariffs on 98% of products from 21 African nations in the past two years, China maintains a trade surplus, with its exports to Africa dominated by finished goods.

The State Council's Customs Tariff Commission announced on December 6, 2023, that China will impose zero tariffs on 98% of imports from Angola, Gambia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Madagascar, Mali, and Mauritania, effective from December 25, 2023. This move enables the beneficiary nations to export to China without facing customs duties on "over 8000 different tariff lines."

Over the past two years, China removed tariffs on 98% of products from 21 African nations, including Ethiopia, Niger, Benin, Mozambique, and Sudan. This tariff reduction aligns with Beijing's plan to boost agricultural imports from Africa, as outlined by President Xi Jinping during the 8th ministerial conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC 8) in Dakar in November 2021. Xi aimed to increase China's imports from Africa to $100 billion annually from 2022 and $300 billion annually by 2035. Data from China's General Administration of Customs in August revealed that trade between China and Africa reached $156.4 billion in the first seven months of 2023, a 7.4% increase from the same period in 2022.

From January 1 to July 31, 2023, China's exports to African countries surged by 20%, reaching about $97.8 billion. During the same period, Chinese imports from Africa amounted to $58.6 billion. China mainly ships finished goods (textiles, machinery, electronics) to Africa, while it mainly receives raw materials such as crude oil, copper, cobalt and iron ore from the continent, resulting in an ever-growing trade surplus.

Additional Info

  • communiques: Non
  • couleur: N/A
On the same topic
nabD replaces SoGé following Saham’s takeover of Société Générale Maroc The platform offers mobile-first banking with remote account opening A...
Ghana’s First Atlantic Bank approved to operate in Liberia Liberia entry follows $60M IPO on Ghana Stock Exchange in 2025 FAB aims to...
Gabon postponed the operational launch of its Central Purchasing Agency to late Q1 or early April 2026. Administrative gaps and the absence of a...
IFC considers up to $50 million investment in Adenia Entrepreneurial Fund I Fund targets African SMEs across manufacturing, energy, healthcare,...
Most Read
01

Africa’s AI adoption is accelerating, but its ability to scale depends primarily on foundational i...

Africa’s Artificial Intelligence Moment : Infrastructure, Governance and the Path to Scale
02

Development Partners International sold its 20.17% stake in Atlantic Business International for mo...

DPI Exits Atlantic Business International in $200 Million-Plus Deal
03

African billionaires increased their combined net worth by $21.9 billion in 2025. Nigerian b...

Africa’s Billionaires Post Strong Gains as Global Wealth Hits Record
04

Africa’s energy & mining exports benefit from US tariff exemptions, cushioning trade as most other...

Africa’s Energy Boom in 2026 Puts AfCFTA at the Heart of Its Trade Response to US Tariffs
05

Flutterwave acquired Nigerian open banking startup Mono in an all-share deal valued between $...

Flutterwave Adds Open Banking With Mono Acquisition
Enter your email to receive our newsletter

Ecofin Agency provides daily coverage of nine key African economic sectors: public management, finance, telecoms, agribusiness, mining, energy, transport, communication, and education.
It also designs and manages specialized media, both online and print, for African institutions and publishers.

SALES & ADVERTISING

regie@agenceecofin.com 
Tél: +41 22 301 96 11 
Mob: +41 78 699 13 72


EDITORIAL
redaction@agenceecofin.com

More information
Team
Publisher

ECOFIN AGENCY

Mediamania Sarl
Rue du Léman, 6
1201 Geneva
Switzerland

 

Ecofin Agency is a sector-focused economic news agency, founded in December 2010. Its web platform was launched in June 2011. ©Mediamania.

 
 

Please publish modules in offcanvas position.