KARACHI:
China has waived all duties on imports from 53 African countries, positioning itself as an anchor of stability amid chaos in the international “rules-based” trading system triggered by US President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs. Many African economies are grappling with the fallout from Washington’s trade measures.
Against this backdrop, China’s blanket tariff relief has strengthened its position as a reliable economic partner for Africa. The zero-tariff announcement – made during a high-level meeting linked to the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Changsha, China – marks one of the most expansive trade concessions offered to the impoverished continent to date. From May 1, zero levies will apply to all African countries that maintain diplomatic relations with China, except Eswatini, which recognises Taiwan.
As part of Trump’s tariff strategy – which was struck down by the US Supreme Court last week – the US president slapped 15% to 50% duties on imports from 22 African countries, disrupting long-established trade patterns and threatening key sectors from textiles to automobiles.
After the Changsha meeting, Chinese and African leaders jointly criticised, without naming America, what they called “protectionism and economic bullying,” promising to resist unilateral trade pressure. In a letter read at the gathering, President Xi Jinping extended zero-tariff treatment for “all tariff lines” to all but one African nation. Not only that, he also pledged more measures for least-developed African countries to help them boost their exports to the Chinese market. This is not the first time China has offered trade facilitation to Africa. The tariff elimination builds on commitments made at the 2024 FOCAC summit in Beijing, where China granted zero-tariff treatment to 33 least-developed African countries and waived duties on 98% of goods from 21 others. Under the new arrangement, the earlier patchwork of preferential access will be replaced with blanket tariff elimination for virtually the entire continent.
The development is seen by analysts as a major opportunity for African governments exploring alternative markets amid rising US protectionism. Countries including South Africa, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, Botswana, Algeria, Libya, Tunisia, Chad and Equatorial Guinea have been among those hit hard, with duties in some cases reaching 30% to 50%.
In South Africa’s case, a 30% tariff has severely impacted automobile and agricultural exports. The United States is the second-largest trading partner of South Africa after China, and the American market accounts for billions of dollars in vehicle exports annually. Industry data show that auto exports to the US have plunged since Trump’s tariffs took effect, raising fears that up to 100,000 jobs could be at risk in a country already struggling with high unemployment.
The situation is even more concerning in the dirt-poor Lesotho, where the textile and apparel industry – largely built around exports to the US under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) – accounts for roughly 20% of GDP and employs about 40,000 workers. With tariffs of up to 50% now imposed on some exports, the government has declared a “state of disaster,” warning of catastrophic economic fallout. For 25 years, AGOA defined US-Africa trade ties, granting duty-free access to the US market for specified goods from eligible African states. The programme expired in September 2025, and with the imposition of new tariffs, many observers believe the era of broad, duty-free regional access to the US market is effectively over.
For 15 consecutive years, China has been Africa’s largest trading partner. Beijing is also a key backer of major infrastructure projects on the continent through its multibillion-dollar “Belt and Road” initiative. In 2024, the two-way trade reached a whopping $300 billion, dwarfing US-Africa trade, which stood at just over $100 billion. According to International Monetary Fund data, roughly 20% of Africa’s exports now go to China, with primary commodities, metals, minerals, and fuel, making up bulk of shipments.
Beijing has also become Africa’s largest bilateral creditor, financing infrastructure, energy and mining projects. Although critics in the West argue that this engagement has increased debt vulnerabilities and pressured local industries with low-cost imports, it has nonetheless revolutionsed Africa’s economic landscape. The zero-tariff announcement will further solidify China’s position as Africa’s most dependable major trade partner. Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi said it would generate “strong momentum” for Africa, praising China as a steadfast partner and a powerful voice for the Global South. South Africa’s Minister of International Relations Ronald Lamola said the move would help diversify market access for African exports.
For African policymakers, the US tariff shock has forced difficult questions about trade dependence and diversification. Although African exports to the US account for only about 1.5% of the continent’s collective GDP, specific industries – such as garments in Lesotho or automobiles in South Africa – are heavily reliant on the American market.
Analysts argue that the current turbulence underlines the need to speed up implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which aims to boost intra-African trade from roughly 18% of total trade to over 50% in the coming decades. Nonetheless, progress has been slow, stymied by non-tariff barriers and weak infrastructure.
In the meantime, China’s zero-tariff opening offers immediate relief and a powerful symbolic contrast to Trump’s ‘America-first’ approach. The US president has defended his tariff policy as necessary to protect American industry and rebalance trade relationships. At a July summit with five African presidents in Washington, he declared a shift from “aid to trade” in US-Africa ties. However, the subsequent imposition of punitive duties has fueled scepticism among African leaders about the consistency of US policy. Conversely, China is presenting itself as a champion of multilateralism and South-South cooperation. In the Changsha declaration, Chinese and African officials called on the international community to focus on the development challenges facing African countries and to resolve trade disputes through dialogue based on mutual respect. While the zero-tariff regime could boost African exports to the world’s second-largest economy, it also raises questions. Much of Africa’s trade with China is concentrated in raw materials, with limited value addition on the continent. Without parallel efforts to industrialise and diversify exports, African economies may remain vulnerable to commodity price swings.
That said, reliance on a single trade partner has its own risks. Some analysts argue that Africa’s best strategy lies in cultivating balanced trade relationships with multiple partners. Still, at a time when many African economies are reeling from punitive US duties, China’s sweeping offer of zero-tariff access represents a crucial and timely intervention. Despite the US Supreme Court nullifying Trump’s tariff policy, his administration continues to escalate global trade tensions, leaving Africa at the centre of a shifting economic order. China’s waiver of all tariffs for all but one African nation is not merely a commercial gesture but a strategic move that could reshape trade flows, alliances and development pathways for the years to come.
