Customs officers inspect a shipment of fresh Egyptian oranges at Shanghai's Waigaoqiao Port on May 1. CHINA DAILY
China's zero-tariff policy toward African countries marks a shift that goes beyond traditional trade considerations, reshaping global economic relations through deeper integration and stronger links to international value chains, Egyptian analysts say.
With China-Africa trade exceeding $348 billion last year, the policy signals a new phase in the economic repositioning of 53 African countries within the global economy by boosting export competitiveness, attracting investment and promoting export-oriented industrialization, they said.
The move also opens wider prospects for deepening China-Egypt relations at a symbolic moment, coinciding with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries, they added.
"This policy represents a structural shift in the philosophy of trade relations between China and Africa, moving toward a more long-term economic partnership," said Nermeen Tawfik, coordinator of the Pharos Center for Strategic Studies and Consultations.
