Story perspectives

China Extends Tariff-Free Trade to All 53 African Nations

5/5/2026

Summary

China Expands Tariff-Free

China expanded tariff-free treatment to all 53 African nations on May 1, 2026, allowing a 24-tonne South African apple shipment.
Luo Shengcong said the apples cleared Shenzhen customs early, will be sold nationwide, saving about CNY 20,000 (USD 2,929) in tariffs.
Guo Xueyan said the policy shows China’s multilateralism as trade with the 53 African nations reached a record USD 348 billion in 2025 and USD 92.16 billion in Q1 2026, up 26.8 %.

Summary

China Excludes

China left Eswatini out of its duty-free trade deal because the kingdom recognises Taiwan.
President Lai Ching-te of Taiwan cancelled a planned visit after nearby African states denied his plane’s overflight.
Analyst Jervin Naidoo says tariff cuts alone cannot offset Africa’s weak logistics and limited industrial capacity.
Wen-Ti Sung warns China is weaponising trade ties by using Eswatini’s exclusion to pressure countries that recognise Taiwan.

Summary

Kenya Boosts Certification

Kenya Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui urged training, certification and buyer-linkage to close the readiness gap.
Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency will help firms meet China’s certificate-of-origin rules.
South Africa’s trade department and revenue service are revising customs procedures for origin certificates.
Minister Parks Tau said zero tariffs will boost South Africa’s export competitiveness.
China’s Ministry of Commerce linked the move to a future China-Africa Economic Partnership for Shared Development.

Summary

China Grants Tariff-Free

The zero-tariff regime runs May 1 2026–April 2028 and includes a “Green Lane” programme that speeds clearance and expands China-Africa Expo for coffee, tea, avocados and macadamia nuts.
Exporters could save about KSh 150 billion, which Ambassador Guo Haiyan said the move will use to shift Africa from raw-material exports to manufacturing.
The policy builds on a 2024 pilot that gave tariff relief to 33 LDCs before extending to Kenya, Egypt and Nigeria.

History

Historical Context

China’s trade with Africa surged from $1 billion in 1980 to $39.7 billion by 2005, prompting the first Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2000. Building on that pledge, Beijing removed tariffs for 33 least-developed African states in December 2024 and expanded duty-free access to 53 African countries in May 2026, a move supported by the African Union and officials such as Luo Shengcong.

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China Expands Tariff-Free

China expanded tariff-free treatment to all 53 African nations on May 1, 2026, allowing a 24-tonne South African apple shipment.
Luo Shengcong said the apples cleared Shenzhen customs early, will be sold nationwide, saving about CNY 20,000 (USD 2,929) in tariffs.
Guo Xueyan said the policy shows China’s multilateralism as trade with the 53 African nations reached a record USD 348 billion in 2025 and USD 92.16 billion in Q1 2026, up 26.8 %.

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