Zero-tariff policy opens wider door for African goods

Since China's zero-tariff treatment for 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic relations took effect on May 1, multiple batches of African goods have cleared customs smoothly at ports across the country, the Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

The policy has not only enriched market supply in China and lowered the cost of China-Africa trade, but also greatly boosted the confidence of African producers and exporters, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a daily news briefing.

The move has been warmly received across Africa and highly praised by political leaders from several countries. African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf expressed gratitude to China for what he called a very brotherly gesture.

China is the first major economy in the world to unilaterally offer comprehensive zero-tariff treatment to all African countries with which it has diplomatic ties, Guo said.

He noted that 24 metric tons of fresh apples from South Africa became the first shipment to benefit from the expanded zero-tariff policy.

A wide range of quality and distinctive African products — including Kenyan avocados, fresh oranges from Egypt, raw gypsum from Morocco, cattle bone pellets from Nigeria, South African wine, and raw materials for medicines — have entered China tariff-free, reaching supermarkets and consumers across the country, Guo added.

The zero-tariff treatment is not an isolated tariff-cutting measure, he said. China has also upgraded "green lanes" for African agricultural and food products entering the Chinese market, while further improving quarantine access procedures and adopting risk-based management and other facilitation measures.

Guo said China will continue to sign economic partnerships for shared development agreements with relevant African countries to establish long-term, stable, and predictable institutional guarantees for economic and trade cooperation.

Such efforts will help ensure the zero-tariff policy is implemented steadily and delivers concrete results, while supporting the future of high-quality China-Africa cooperation, he said.