China Removes Tariffs on African Imports Except Eswatini

China has announced a major change to its import tariff policy that removes duties on goods from almost all African countries except Eswatini. The policy takes effect on Friday and covers 53 African nations.

It will run until April 2028. China expanded an earlier scheme that started in December 2024. That earlier scheme covered 33 least developed African countries.

Beijing says the policy strengthens trade ties with Africa. Officials say China has become the first major economy to offer such wide zero-duty access for African exporters. They present the move as part of efforts to support trade growth between both sides. However, experts say the impact may remain limited due to structural problems in trade.

Trade between China and Africa remains uneven. China exports far more goods to Africa than it imports. Africa continues to depend on raw material exports. These include crude oil and metallic ores. In 2023, Africa recorded a trade deficit of about 102 billion dollars with China.

Analysts say tariffs do not represent the main barrier for African exporters. They point to weak industrial capacity poor logistics and limited infrastructure. These factors reduce Africa’s ability to compete.

Jervin Naidoo of Oxford Economics Africa says tariff cuts alone cannot fix these problems. He notes that many economies still export unprocessed goods instead of finished products.

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Lauren Johnston of the AustChina Institute says China also uses the policy for strategic trade positioning. She explains that China presents itself as a more open partner than the United States. The United States has imposed tariffs on some African goods in recent years.

Agricultural exporters may benefit most from the policy. Products such as coffee tea avocados and nuts could see higher demand in China. Ken Gichinga says better access may support rural incomes and create opportunities for farmers and agribusinesses.

Some countries may benefit more than others. South Africa and Morocco have stronger industrial bases and may expand exports faster. Smaller economies may struggle to compete. Experts warn that without local processing of raw materials trade patterns may remain the same.

Eswatini remains outside the agreement because it maintains diplomatic ties with Taiwan. China views Taiwan as part of its territory. Analysts say the exclusion carries political meaning but limited economic impact for Eswatini.

Trade experts also highlight logistics challenges across many African countries. They point to high transport costs weak rail systems and slow port processes. These issues increase export costs and reduce competitiveness in foreign markets. Many small businesses struggle to meet large order requirements from overseas buyers.

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China also expects the policy to support its own economic interests. It aims to secure stable supply chains and expand its consumer base in Africa. African markets continue to grow in population and demand for manufactured goods.

Policy observers say the success of the tariff removal depends on reforms within African economies. They encourage governments to invest in manufacturing skills development and infrastructure upgrades.

They also stress regional trade cooperation to improve scale and efficiency. Without these changes Africa may continue to export mostly raw materials despite better access to China’s market.

Economists say African exporters must act quickly to use the new market access. They note that competition will remain strong. They also call for policies that support small businesses and value chain growth across key sectors Such steps may help improve export earnings over time across the continent sustainably strengthen