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- Zero-tariff expansion lifts China-Africa trade
China’s expanded zero-tariff treatment for African goods could encourage more investment in processing and manufacturing on the continent, helping producers supply higher-value products to the Chinese market, executives and researchers said.
African exports to China are expected to enter a period of rapid growth over the coming years as industries develop and logistics improve, said Yuan Xiaohui, a senior researcher at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, a think tank under the Ministry of Commerce.
Speaking at the recent China-Africa Private Sector Cooperation Forum 2026 in Beijing, Yuan said the policy could make Africa more attractive to investors seeking to produce and process goods for Chinese consumers.
“Chinese firms’ investment in Africa will expand further from primarily serving local market demand to export-oriented investment,” she said.
China extended zero-tariff treatment on May 1 to all 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic relations. The move added 20 countries to the 33 least-developed countries on the continent that had already received zero tariffs on all tariff lines since December 2024.
Access to the Chinese market, combined with Africa’s potential advantages in land, labor and raw materials, could bring capital, equipment, technology and management expertise into local industries, she added.
Bertha Amakali, minister counsellor at the Namibian embassy in China, said her country wanted to move from simply exporting raw materials to becoming an industrial hub, and welcomed Chinese companies to become long-term partners.
The task for African economies was to convert access to China’s market into productive capacity, higher-value jobs and lasting economic transformation, Amakali said, adding that Namibia has made local value addition, green energy and agricultural modernization strategic priorities, with an emphasis on mineral processing, manufacturing and technology transfer.
The investment opportunities come as China-Africa trade continues to expand. Bilateral trade reached $312.1 billion in the first nine months, up 22.3 percent year-on-year, according to the General Administration of Customs. China’s imports from Africa during the period rose 18.5 percent to $109.1 billion.
In Ethiopia, Chinese companies have established coffee-processing facilities and joint ventures supplying China and other markets, said Nebiyu Mohamed Bogale, a minister at the Ethiopian embassy in Beijing.
Ethiopia wants to work with more Chinese companies in agricultural processing and the development of processing facilities to raise the value of its exports and better meet Chinese consumer demand, he said.
The prospect of faster export growth also depends on reliable supplies and better logistics.
Lyu Cuifeng, president of Qingdao CJ Smart Cargo International Services Ltd, said it had taken three years of work to bring fresh Kenyan avocados to China in 2022. Even after securing market access, her import business faced difficulties with refrigerated storage, transport and maintaining product quality consistency.
In discussions about importing pineapples from Benin, Lyu encountered another problem — the available preservation technology could keep the fruit for about 30 days, while the sea journey under consideration took about 60 days.
Yuan called for investment and special support across the export chain, from production and processing to storage, transport and sales, adding that African countries should identify priority products suited to Chinese demand and address the obstacles facing each stage of the process.
Closer cooperation on standards, certification and customs procedures — along with help finding buyers — would enable more African suppliers to reach Chinese consumers, she said.
The China-Africa Business Council also called for sustained investment in a report released at the forum. In the report, the council urged Chinese enterprises to expand investment in Africa’s green and digital industries, make better use of zero-tariff opportunities and maintain a long-term commitment to the continent.
Wu Yanming, the council’s chairman, said investment partnerships were broadening in scope as Chinese firms placed greater emphasis on the long-term value of their African operations.
Wu urged them to consider local employment, environmental protection and community needs throughout the lifespan of their projects.
Contact the writers at lijing2009@chinadaily.com.cn
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