China announces canceling tariffs on Africa starting next May
Chinese President Xi Jinping has announced that his country’s decision last year to eliminate tariffs on imports from all African countries except Taiwan-backed Eswatini will come into effect on May 1.
In a message on Saturday to the African Union and African Commission presidents on the occasion of the 39th summit of the African Union, Xi said Beijing also intends to accelerate the signing of a structured economic agreement and facilitate the entry of African exports into the Chinese market.
The fee waiver “will undoubtedly provide new opportunities for African development,” he said, reiterating China’s will to strengthen the comprehensive strategic partnership with Africa.
China currently applies a tariff-free policy on imports from 33 African countries, but will extend the exemption to all countries on the continent with which it has relations from May 2026.
According to data issued by the General Administration of Customs of China, trade between China and Africa reached $348.05 billion in 2025, achieving an increase of 17.7% year-on-year.
Chinese exports increased by 25.8% to $225.03 billion, while imports from Africa increased by 5.4% to $123.02 billion.
