China to Eliminate Import Tariffs for 53 African Nations Effective May 2026

On February 14, 2026, during the prestigious 39th annual African Union (AU) summit held in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa, Chinese President Xi Jinping unveiled a transformative trade policy aimed at reshaping the economic landscape between China and the African continent. The People's Republic of China has officially announced the implementation of a comprehensive zero-tariff regime for imports coming from 53 African nations that maintain formal diplomatic ties with Beijing. This ambitious policy is scheduled to take full effect on May 1, 2026, marking a significant milestone in the long-standing relationship between the world's second-largest economy and the African continent.

This new measure serves as a substantial expansion of the existing preferential taxation framework that was already in place. Previously, in December 2024, China had granted duty-free market access to 33 of Africa's least developed countries (LDCs) to help integrate them into the global supply chain. By broadening this scope to include nearly the entire continent, Beijing intends to provide a powerful stimulus for African exports. This initiative is a core component of a broader strategy to solidify a comprehensive strategic partnership. To ensure the success of this transition, Beijing has also committed to optimizing "green channels" and simplifying complex import procedures, making it easier for African agricultural and industrial products to reach Chinese consumers.

During his address, President Xi also reaffirmed China's dedication to accelerating the negotiation process for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement. The goal of this agreement is to facilitate smoother market entry for African goods, with a specific focus on products that possess higher added value. By moving beyond raw commodities, African nations can hope to achieve more sustainable economic growth. This policy shift is also framed as a strategic response to the growing global trend of protectionism, particularly the aggressive tariff measures that were introduced by the previous administration in the United States, positioning China as a champion of open trade.

The current economic data underscores the growing interdependence between the two regions, while also highlighting areas for improvement. According to the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China, the total trade volume between China and African nations reached a record $348.05 billion by the end of 2025. This represents a robust growth of 17.7% compared to the figures recorded in 2024. However, the data also reveals a persistent structural imbalance: Chinese exports to Africa surged by 25.8% to $225.03 billion in 2025, while African exports to China grew at a slower pace of 5.4%, totaling $123.02 billion. For context, the total trade turnover in 2024 was $295.56 billion, which was a 4.8% increase from the previous year.

Among the 53 beneficiary countries included in this historic trade agreement is the Kingdom of Morocco, which continues to strengthen its economic ties with Beijing. However, it is noteworthy that the Kingdom of Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, has been excluded from this list of preferential treatment. This exclusion is directly linked to Eswatini’s diplomatic recognition of Taiwan, a position that is fundamentally at odds with Beijing's "One China" policy. This situation clearly illustrates how economic preferences and trade benefits are often used as instruments of political diplomacy within the context of China's international relations strategy.

Leading analytical organizations, such as the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), have noted that while zero-tariff access is a vital step, it is not the only factor required for success. For African nations to truly benefit from this opening, they must implement deep structural reforms, particularly in improving logistics infrastructure and developing sophisticated regional value chains. The ultimate effectiveness of this Chinese initiative will depend on the ability of African economies to transform this unprecedented market access into tangible growth for high-value exports, rather than remaining solely dependent on the export of raw natural resources.