Accra: Chinese President Xi Jinping announced during the 39th African Union Summit that China will implement zero-tariff treatment on all products from 53 African countries with diplomatic relations with China, starting May 1, 2026. This move is aimed at fostering a shared future between China and Africa.
According to Ghana News Agency, China has become the first major economy to unilaterally offer full zero-tariff treatment to African and least developed countries it has diplomatic relations with, promising new opportunities and increased momentum in trade and investment cooperation. China has been expanding its openness since 2005, extending zero-tariff benefits to products from least developed countries, including those in Africa. The latest zero-tariff initiative is part of broader economic partnership agreements for shared development with African nations.
During the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference in March, 129 WTO parties, including China, committed to the multilateral trading system and opposed unilateralism and protectionism. The zero-tariff policy will reduce the cost of African products entering the Chinese market, making them more competitive. It will also promote trade and investment integration, attracting capital, technology, and expertise to Africa. This policy aims to diversify Africa's exports, optimize structures, and benefit small and medium enterprises, creating new jobs.
Furthermore, the policy will transform China-Africa cooperation models, moving from project-based engagements to industrial collaborations. This will expand industrial value chains and support Africa's industrialization and agricultural modernization. As the world faces rising unilateralism and protectionism, China's zero-tariff treatment for Africa seeks to provide stability through strengthened cooperation.
China and Africa have historically opposed imperialism and now seek to advance modernization and globalization together. The zero-tariff policy aligns with President Kwame Nkrumah's vision of a powerful, industrialized Africa. China, as Ghana's largest trading partner and major investor, recorded USD 14.1 billion in bilateral trade in 2025. The zero-tariff policy will unlock Ghana's export potential and enhance mutually beneficial cooperation, supporting Ghana's '24-Hour Economy' and 'Resetting Ghana' Agenda.
China and Africa aim to safeguard common interests and defend the multilateral system, advocating for a multipolar world and inclusive global economic globalization.