China Eliminates Tariffs for All African Countries Except Eswatini
On April 30, 2026, China officially announced a zero-tariff policy for 53 African nations, with the sole exception of Eswatini, which maintains diplomatic ties with Taiwan rather than Beijing. The policy takes effect immediately and will remain in place until April 30, 2028.
This expansion builds on an earlier policy implemented in December 2024, which granted duty-free access to 33 least-developed African nations. With this move, China positions itself as the first major economy to offer unilateral zero-tariff treatment to virtually the entire African continent.
A Soft Power Play
Beijing has framed the policy as a demonstration of its commitment to African development. Lauren Johnston, a senior research fellow at the AustChina Institute, told the BBC: “China is positioning itself as the trade liberaliser and Africa-friendly economic partner, in contrast to Donald Trump and the US.”
The timing carries particular significance. The US had previously imposed tariffs of up to 30% on some African nations. While the US Supreme Court struck down many of these duties, most African countries still face a 10% tariff. In this context, China’s zero-tariff policy carries clear political and diplomatic weight.
A Widening Trade Imbalance
Despite the symbolic importance of the zero-tariff policy, analysts caution that tariffs are rarely the primary obstacle for African exporters. Sino-African trade is marked by a significant and growing imbalance — Chinese exports to Africa far exceed African exports to China, and this gap is widening.
In 2025, Africa’s trade deficit with China surged by 65% to approximately $102 billion. Africa’s exports to China are dominated by minerals and raw materials, including crude oil and metallic ores. Currently, China’s main trading partners in the region include Angola (driven primarily by oil), the Democratic Republic of Congo, and South Africa.
Who Will Benefit?
Jervin Naidoo, a political analyst at Oxford Economics Africa, noted: “Many African economies still face structural constraints, such as limited industrial capacity, weak logistics, and a reliance on raw commodity exports, which tariff reductions alone cannot address.”
Alfred Schipke, director of the East Asian Institute in Singapore, agreed that the short-term economic impact “will likely be modest and concentrated in African countries that already have export capacity.” However, over the long term, if African countries are able to expand production, diversify exports, and move up the value chain, the potential could be more meaningful.
Agricultural Opportunities for Kenya and Beyond
Changing consumer demand in China could open new markets for African producers. Amit Jain, a Singapore-based expert in China-Africa relations, pointed out that Chinese consumers are buying significantly more coffee and nuts than they did two decades ago.
Kenyan economist Ken Gichinga said: “These new measures will improve access to Chinese markets, closing that trade deficit and expand opportunities for African companies to prosper. For Kenya, it will be a big boost to certain subsectors such as avocado. The agriculture sector will benefit the most — macadamia nuts, coffee, tea and leather.”
Long-Term Challenges
While the zero-tariff policy has been welcomed, Wangari Kebuchi, an Africa fiscal policy economist, cautioned that short-term support for foreign exchange earnings and “a modest boost to agriculture, mining and logistics sectors” are welcome — but medium and long-term fiscal gains will not materialize from market access alone.
China’s zero-tariff policy for Africa represents a significant diplomatic and economic gesture. However, addressing Africa’s structural economic challenges will require more comprehensive development strategies beyond tariff elimination.
Sources: BBC News