Summary
China will stop charging tariffs (import taxes) on goods from all African countries except Eswatini, which has ties with Taiwan. This zero-tariff policy, which started earlier for some poor African nations, now applies to 53 countries until April 2028, aiming to boost African exports to China.Key Facts
- China will remove tariffs on imports from all African countries except Eswatini starting Friday.
- Eswatini is excluded because it maintains diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
- The zero-tariff policy already covered 33 least-developed African countries since December 2024 and now includes 53 countries.
- The policy will last until April 30, 2028; what happens after is unknown.
- Africa’s exports to China are mainly raw materials like oil and minerals.
- Africa has a large trade deficit with China, meaning it buys more from China than it sells. The deficit grew 65% to about $102 billion last year.
- Experts say tariff removal alone won’t solve deeper economic problems in Africa, like lack of industry and poor infrastructure.
- The policy could increase African agricultural exports such as coffee, nuts, and avocados.
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