China has scrapped tariffs on imports from 53 African countries, extending duty-free access to all nations on the continent with diplomatic ties to Beijing. Effective May 1, the policy expands a 2024 initiative that initially covered 33 least-developed African countries to include 20 additional nations, with preferential access running through April 2028. Eswatini is excluded due to its ties with Taiwan. The move aims to boost competitiveness for African exports such as cocoa, citrus, wine, and avocados in the Chinese market. China, Africa’s largest trading partner, recorded $348 billion in bilateral trade in 2025, with imports rising 5.4% to more than $123 billion, though analysts note structural constraints in logistics and industrial capacity may limit the policy’s impact.

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