China Grants Zero-tariff To All Imports From Nigeria, 52 Others

China has introduced plans to eradicate tariffs on all imports from African international locations with which it maintains diplomatic relations, in a serious shift in commerce coverage, anticipated to deepen financial cooperation because it positions itself as a key commerce and funding associate with the continent.

Whereas this provide covers Nigeria and 52 different African international locations, it excludes Eswatini, the one African nation recognising Taiwan’s sovereignty.

The announcement was made in a joint assertion issued after a high-level assembly between Chinese language Overseas Minister Wang Yi and African officers within the metropolis of Changsha, Hunan province.

The transfer considerably expands an earlier coverage that granted zero-tariff remedy solely to the least-developed nations on the continent.

Chinese language President Xi Jinping introduced in a letter addressed to African overseas ministers, stating that each one 53 African international locations with formal ties to Beijing will now obtain “zero-tariff remedy for 100 per cent of tariff strains.”

The coverage enlargement builds on earlier commitments made at a China-Africa summit in September, the place 33 least-developed African international locations have been beforehand granted duty-free entry to the Chinese language market.

The outcomes are already being felt as Chinese language exports to Africa surged 12.4% within the first 5 months of the 12 months, reaching a report 963 billion yuan ($134 billion), in response to China’s Overseas Ministry.

The provide comes amid rising commerce tensions between African nations and the US.

The joint China-Africa assertion referred to as on international locations, particularly the US, to “return to the proper observe” of resolving commerce disputes by means of dialogue primarily based on mutual respect.

The decision follows President Trump’s current protectionist transfer, which slapped steep new levies on a number of African international locations.

These included tariffs of as much as 50 per cent on imports from Lesotho, 47 per cent from Madagascar, 40 per cent from Mauritius, 38 per cent from Botswana, and 31 per cent from South Africa, the continent’s most industrialised nation and largest exporter to the U.S.

Over 30 African international locations threat shedding duty-free privileges beneath the U.S. African Progress and Alternative Act (AGOA), a key commerce settlement that has come beneath scrutiny in recent times.

President Donald Trump had signaled intentions to use reciprocal tariffs on all of America’s buying and selling companions, casting uncertainty over the way forward for AGOA and comparable preferential packages.

In the meantime, Beijing’s new provide positions China as a extra steady and predictable commerce associate at a time when the worldwide commerce surroundings is more and more polarised.