Effective May 1, China will remove all customs duties on imports from 53 African nations to boost bilateral trade and reduce a significant $100 billion trade deficit.
China has announced it will eliminate all customs duties on imports from 53 African countries, effective May 1, 2026. This sweeping policy aims to grant African nations unimpeded access to one of the world’s largest consumer markets and address a burgeoning trade deficit. Eswatini remains the only African nation excluded from the scheme due to its continued diplomatic recognition of Taiwan over the People’s Republic of China.
The initiative comes as bilateral trade hits record highs, surging to $348 billion in 2025. Despite this growth, the economic relationship remains heavily skewed; China’s exports to the continent reached $225 billion last year, resulting in a trade deficit for Africa of approximately $100 billion. By removing tariffs, Beijing hopes to diversify the current trade flow, which is presently dominated by natural resources like oil, gold, and copper, accounting for nearly 70% of African exports to China.
As Africa’s largest trading partner, China currently accounts for 22% of the continent’s total global trade. Analysts suggest this new duty-free status is designed to encourage the export of more finished agricultural and industrial goods, helping to close the massive gap between the two regions. The move solidifies China’s dominant position in the African market, where it already provides 25% of all imports, far outpacing other partners like the UAE, Italy, and France.