Visitors at the China-Kenya Business Forum learn about Kenyan coffee in Nairobi on March 23. The event focused on China’s decision to grant zero-tariff access from May 1 to African goods.
China’s expanded zero-tariff policy on African goods will significantly boost exports from the continent to the world’s second-largest economy, helping African economies diversify exports and move up the value chain, economists and foreign trade companies say.
From May 1 China extended zero-tariff treatment to all African countries with which it has diplomatic ties, becoming the first major economy to offer unilateral, full zero-tariff access to its African partners.
Under the new measure, preferential zero-tariff treatment is being applied to imports from 20 African countries that are not classified as least developed countries between May 1, 2026, and April 30, 2028, according to the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council.
This move comes after China had granted zero-tariff treatment on 100 per cent of tariff lines since December 1, 2024 for 33 least developed African countries with which it maintains diplomatic relations.
