China has announced it will implement a zero-tariff policy for imports from 53 African countries from May 1, 2026, in a sweeping move expected to deepen trade ties across the continent.
According to Reuters, the policy will apply to all African nations with diplomatic relations with China except Eswatini.
The initiative builds on commitments under the Changsha Declaration within the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) framework. Beijing had earlier pledged full zero-tariff access covering 100 percent of tariff lines for eligible African countries, including Nigeria.
China’s foreign ministry said the policy is part of broader efforts to align with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 development blueprint, with a focus on modernisation and sustainable growth.
Beyond tariff removal, Beijing plans to negotiate and sign a China-Africa Economic Partnership for Shared Development. It will also upgrade trade facilitation tools such as the “green channel” to ease customs clearance and inspection processes for African exports.
For least developed countries (LDCs), China promised additional support measures covering market access, quarantine procedures and skills training.
The ministry said cooperation will prioritise green industry, e-commerce, e-payment systems, science and technology, and artificial intelligence. Security, finance and rule-of-law collaboration will also be strengthened to drive what China described as “high-quality development” in bilateral relations.
With China already Africa’s largest trading partner, the zero-tariff policy could significantly reshape export flows if African producers can meet quality and scale demands of the Chinese market.
