China Pledges Zero Tariffs for 53 African Nations as Trade Volumes Hit Record Highs
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China will eliminate tariffs on all products from 53 African nations this spring, President Xi Jinping announced, a move aimed at cementing Beijing’s economic foothold in the Global South as the Trump administration ramps up trade barriers in Washington.
In a message sent Saturday to the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Xi said the blanket zero-tariff policy would take effect May 1 for all African countries that have diplomatic relations with China. The initiative expands on previous waivers that applied only to the continent’s least-developed economies.
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- China will remove tariffs on all products from 53 African nations with diplomatic ties, starting May 1, 2025, aiming to boost trade and counter U.S. protectionism.
- In the first 11 months of 2025, China-Africa trade grew 17.8% to $314.4 billion, but Chinese exports vastly outpace imports from Africa.
- South Africa and Kenya are among the first countries implementing agreements for duty-free exports under the new policy.
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What Happened When
- January 2026：
- Kenyan trade officials announced a preliminary deal allowing 98% of Kenyan products to enter China duty-free.
- February 10, 2026：
- President Xi Jinping announced China will eliminate tariffs on all products from 53 African nations, effective May 1, 2026.
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