Zero-tariff policy to advance Africa's renaissance

China has expanded zero-tariff treatment to all 53 African countries that have diplomatic relations with it, a move that will reinvigorate the African renaissance dream and marks a major shift in China-Africa cooperation.

From May 1 this year to April 30, 2028, China will grant zero-tariff treatment — in the form of a preferential tariff rate — to 20 African countries that have established diplomatic ties with China and are not classified as least-developed countries. This builds on China's existing zero-tariff policy for 33 least-developed countries in Africa, which took effect in December 2024. Together, these 53 African countries will enjoy zero-tariff access to a consumer market of over 1.4 billion people — one of the largest in the world.

The zero-tariff policy presents a rare opportunity for China and Africa to upgrade trade, remove barriers and foster more open markets. It will also help Africa revitalize its industrialization and unlock agricultural potential, as well as modernize and standardize agricultural production and agri-processing. With zero tariffs in place, Africa is poised to attract Chinese investment and expand production capacity in mining — a sector that has long been a global supplier of critical minerals such as copper, cobalt and lithium — to drive the growth of local manufacturing industries.

As part of its impact on social support and the provision of public goods, the tariff-free arrangement will improve livelihoods, create jobs, stabilize employment, boost incomes and enhance public welfare.

The benefits of zero-tariff deals also align with the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges. The tariff-free framework will strengthen bilateral ties and friendship, allowing people to share development dividends. It also upholds the principles of mutual benefit, sincerity, tangible outcomes, solidarity and good faith that have long guided China-Africa cooperation.

At the continental level, the zero-tariff policy will complement and advance Africa's strategic trade framework under the African Continental Free Trade Area, or AfCFTA, a flagship project of the African Union's Agenda 2063. It will also help dismantle long-standing structural trade barriers that have hindered full realization of the AfCFTA.

Furthermore, the new China-Africa trade framework will be bolstered by key global initiatives and mechanisms proposed by China, including the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, the Belt and Road Initiative and the four major global initiatives.

Ultimately, the zero-tariff policy will accelerate the implementation of the Beijing Action Plan for 2025-2027, which was adopted at the FOCAC summit in Beijing in 2024 and covers trade promotion.

The resulting zero-tariff system will further strengthen China-Africa solidarity in pursuing modernization and deepen bilateral cooperation.

However, to fully seize the opportunities presented by the zero-tariff policy, both China and Africa need to address critical challenges that, if left unresolved, will continue to slow down the full realization of the trade-transforming policy.

First, some stakeholders in Africa — including farmers, local producers and industrialists — lack a full understanding of the zero-tariff policy. These key stakeholders, who stand to benefit from the policy's dividends, have not yet fully grasped the tangible advantages. Therefore, there is a need to raise awareness of the zero-tariff policy across Africa. Chinese embassies and their commercial offices, for instance, could partner with local governments, media, industries and cooperatives to publicize the benefits of the program for all parties concerned.

Second, Africa continues to struggle with technological constraints and insufficient production capacity. Most African farmers lack access to modern technologies that would enable them to produce agricultural goods in large quantities and fully tap into China's huge consumer market. This shortage of modern technology undermines product consistency, quality grading, storage and value-added processing. As a result, Chinese assistance is needed to introduce advanced technological mechanisms and boost overall production capacity.

Third, many African products face difficulties in reaching Chinese consumers, as the market is regulated by stringent sanitary and phytosanitary standards and regulations. Therefore, it is of great importance for key stakeholders to fully understand relevant standards and certification policies, in order to effectively tap into and enter the Chinese market.

Last but not least, African countries still face challenges stemming from weak institutional capacity, resulting from poor coordination between government agencies, export promotion bodies and private-sector players. Such institutional inefficiency creates major obstacles for farmers and producers of key export goods, including avocados, coffee, tea and macadamia nuts. These products are vital for African nations to gain better access to the Chinese market and narrow the China-Africa trade imbalance, an issue the new zero-tariff framework is designed to address.

This notwithstanding, the benefits of the zero-tariff policy far outweigh the challenges.

China and Africa are genuine, dedicated and steadfast partners, committed to breaking down trade barriers, realizing shared development, and advancing Africa's renaissance to empower the continent in pursuing high-quality modernization.

The author is executive director of the China-Africa Center at the Nairobi-based Africa Policy Institute.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.