Chinese authorities announced on Tuesday that China will extend zero-tariff treatment to all African countries with which it has diplomatic relations, starting from May 1.
According to the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council, from May 1, 2026, to April 30, 2028, China will grant zero-tariff treatment to 20 African countries that have diplomatic ties with it and are not classified as least developed countries.
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The commission noted that since December 1, 2024, China has already been granting zero-tariff treatment on 100 per cent of tariff lines to 33 least developed African countries with diplomatic relations.
With this new expansion taking effect on Friday, China will become the first major economy to offer unilateral, full-coverage zero-tariff treatment to all African countries that maintain diplomatic relations with it.
