{"id":1749,"date":"2026-04-30T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-30T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.hscodematch.com\/china-extends-zero-tariff-policy-to-all-products-from-african-nations\/"},"modified":"2026-09-10T08:09:53","modified_gmt":"2026-09-10T08:09:53","slug":"china-drops-all-tariffs-on-goods-from-53-african-countries-with","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hscodematch.com\/news\/china-drops-all-tariffs-on-goods-from-53-african-countries-with\/","title":{"rendered":"China Drops All Tariffs on Goods from 53 African Countries with Certificate of Origin from 1 May 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

China announced that it would implement a zero-tariff policy on all tariff lines for products from 53 African countries with diplomatic ties with China from May 1, 2026.<\/p>\n

China will remove all import tariffs on goods from 53 African countries with diplomatic ties from 1 May 2026<\/strong>, the commerce ministry said in a statement1<\/a><\/sup>. The measure covers every tariff line and will run for two years for the 20 African nations that are not classified as least-developed2<\/a><\/sup>. It follows a December 2024 decision to grant duty-free access to all products from the 33 least-developed African states that recognise Beijing1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

The policy targets everything from cocoa and coffee to machinery and processed foods, cutting delivered costs for African exporters by up to 30 % on some lines2<\/a><\/sup>. Senegalese groundnut oil, previously taxed at 10 %, and South African wine, which carried a 14-20 % duty, will now enter China duty-free if they meet origin and health rules2<\/a><\/sup>. The ministry estimates the change will save African exporters roughly $1.2 billion a year in tariffs3<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

It comes as China\u2019s trade with Africa hit a record $348 billion in 2025, up 23.7 % in the first quarter of 20264<\/a><\/sup>. The move is timed to mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations and to align with the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Action Plan for 2025-20273<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

The countries and the clock<\/h2>\n

The 53 nations include every African state that recognises Beijing: 33 least-developed countries already enjoyed full duty-free access, and the new measure extends the same treatment to the remaining 202<\/a><\/sup>. Among them are Algeria, Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa and Tunisia2<\/a><\/sup>. The zero-tariff window for these 20 runs until 30 April 2028<\/strong>, after which the duty-free status will depend on the completion of bilateral economic partnership agreements1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

\n
\n

Two groups, one tariff line<\/h4>\n
\n \n \n
Question<\/th>33 least-developed states<\/th>20 other states<\/th><\/tr>\n <\/thead>\n
Duty-free since<\/th>December 2024 decision<\/td>1 May 2026<\/td><\/tr>\n
Zero-tariff window<\/th>Ongoing<\/td>Until 30 April 2028<\/td><\/tr>\n
After the window<\/th>\u2014<\/td>Bilateral partnership agreements<\/td><\/tr>\n
Examples<\/th>\u2014<\/td>Algeria, Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, Tunisia<\/td><\/tr>\n <\/tbody>\n <\/table><\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

The ministry published the detailed tariff schedule on 28 April 20262<\/a><\/sup>. Importers must still present a certificate of origin<\/strong> issued by the exporting country\u2019s customs authority; without it, the shipment reverts to the standard most-favoured-nation rate1<\/a><\/sup>. Health and safety certificates remain mandatory for food, plants and live animals5<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

What the tariff cut changes<\/h2>\n

Before May 2026, duties on African goods ranged from 0 % to 50 %, with most agricultural products taxed at 8-22 % and manufactured goods at 5-15 %2<\/a><\/sup>. The new schedule sets every line at 0 % for qualifying shipments1<\/a><\/sup>. Cocoa from C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire and Ghana, previously taxed at 8-22 %, and Kenyan avocados, which carried a 20 % duty, now enter duty-free2<\/a><\/sup>. The ministry calculates that a 100-tonne shipment of sesame saves $11,000 in tariffs, while Nigeria\u2019s annual export of 7,000 tonnes of cattle bone granules saves $450,0003<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

\n
\n

Tariff saved on a qualifying shipment<\/h4>\n
\n Nigeria cattle bone granules, 7,000 t\/yr<\/span>\n <\/span><\/span>\n $450,000<\/span>\n <\/div>\n
\n Sesame, 100-tonne shipment<\/span>\n <\/span><\/span>\n $11,000<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div><\/figure>\n

The change is unilateral: China does not require reciprocal tariff cuts from African partners1<\/a><\/sup>. It also does not remove non-tariff barriers such as testing, labelling or quarantine rules5<\/a><\/sup>. Senegalese exporters report that sending samples to European laboratories for required tests adds weeks and thousands of dollars to each order5<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Who gains and who still pays<\/h2>\n

The biggest beneficiaries are exporters of processed and semi-processed goods. Senegal\u2019s groundnut oil exports to China rose 313 % in the first half of 2026, while groundnut shipments climbed 169 %5<\/a><\/sup>. Nigerian sesame and cashew exports have also surged, with monthly growth exceeding 40 % in May and June3<\/a><\/sup>. Small and medium-sized processors, however, still bear the cost of compliance: product testing, packaging upgrades and certification fees remain unchanged5<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

\n
\n

Where the benefit and the burden land<\/h4>\n
\n African exporters<\/strong>\n Groundnut oil up 313%, groundnuts up 169% in H1 2026<\/span>\n <\/div>\n
\n Nigerian sesame and cashew traders<\/strong>\n Monthly growth above 40% in May and June<\/span>\n <\/div>\n
\n Small and medium processors<\/strong>\n Still fund testing, packaging and certification<\/span>\n <\/div>\n
\n China’s customs revenue<\/strong>\n Absorbs the tariff cut; importers pay nothing<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n Gains<\/span>\n Still pays<\/span>\n <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Chinese importers pay nothing; the tariff cut is absorbed by China\u2019s customs revenue1<\/a><\/sup>. African governments and exporters must still fund the infrastructure, testing and logistics needed to meet Chinese standards4<\/a><\/sup>. A Senegalese trade official noted that zero tariffs \u201copen the door, but we must walk through it with products that are competitive, compliant and processed\u201d5<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

The next two years and beyond<\/h2>\n

The zero-tariff window for the 20 non-least-developed countries closes on 30 April 20282<\/a><\/sup>. After that, duty-free access will depend on the completion of bilateral economic partnership agreements that cover goods, services, investment and digital trade1<\/a><\/sup>. China and Nigeria signed a framework agreement in March 2026, and negotiations with Kenya, Egypt and South Africa are expected to start in late 20263<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

\n
\n

The clock on duty-free access<\/h4>\n
\n Mar 2026<\/span>\n China\u2013Nigeria framework agreement signed<\/span>\n <\/div>\n
\n 1 May 2026<\/span>\n Zero tariffs begin for the 20 non-LDC states<\/span>\n <\/div>\n
\n Late 2026<\/span>\n Talks expected with Kenya, Egypt, South Africa<\/span>\n <\/div>\n
\n 30 Apr 2028<\/span>\n Window closes; no agreement means standard rates from 1 May<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

The ministry said it will open \u201cgreen channels\u201d for African exports, establish commodity exhibition centres in China and expand cross-border e-commerce platforms3<\/a><\/sup>. Training programmes on Chinese market-access rules have already begun in Senegal and Nigeria5<\/a><\/sup>. Without these agreements, the 20 countries will revert to the standard tariff schedule on 1 May 2028, losing the duty-free advantage1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

What the policy does not change<\/h2>\n

The measure does not alter China\u2019s health, safety or origin rules. Every shipment must still carry a plant-health certificate<\/strong> for plants, a veterinary certificate<\/strong> for live animals and a certificate of analysis<\/strong> for processed foods5<\/a><\/sup>. Senegalese exporters report that some required tests are not available in-country and must be performed in Europe, adding cost and delay5<\/a><\/sup>. The policy also does not cover services, digital trade or government procurement3<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

\n
\n

What the zero-tariff policy does not cover<\/h4>\n
\n Health, safety and origin rules<\/strong>\n Plant-health, veterinary and analysis certificates still required<\/span>\n <\/div>\n
\n Non-tariff barriers<\/strong>\n Testing, labelling and quarantine rules unchanged<\/span>\n <\/div>\n
\n Services, digital trade, procurement<\/strong>\n Outside the measure entirely<\/span>\n <\/div>\n
\n Permanence<\/strong>\n Two-year window, pending bilateral agreements<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

It is not permanent: the two-year window is designed to give African nations time to negotiate the longer-term agreements that will lock in duty-free access2<\/a><\/sup>. Until those agreements are signed, the zero-tariff status remains temporary and unilateral1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Sources<\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. \u21a9<\/a> China Implements Full-Scale Zero Tariff Measures for 53 African Diplomatic Partners<\/a> https:\/\/www.mofcom.gov.cn\/syxwfb\/art\/2026\/art_18ff89e6cb2e43b7b2e76066a270c8ee.html<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. \u21a9<\/a> China Implements Zero Tariff Measures for 53 African Countries Effective May 1<\/a> https:\/\/www.mofcom.gov.cn\/xwfb\/sjfzrfb\/art\/2026\/art_eb89a23715fa49cf87c245c1d0710842.html<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. \u21a9<\/a> Keynote Speech by Chinese Consul General in Lagos Mrs. Yan Yuqing at the Seminar on China\u2019s Zero-Tariff Measures and Africa\u2019s Economic Structural Transformation<\/a> https:\/\/lagos.china-consulate.gov.cn\/eng\/zlgxw\/202608\/t20260820_12007025.htm<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. \u21a9<\/a> China and Africa in the Zero-Tariff Era<\/a> https:\/\/ly.china-embassy.gov.cn\/lbyyw\/202606\/t20260602_11923088.htm<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. \u21a9<\/a> Senegal eyes more processed exports to China under zero-tariff policy<\/a> http:\/\/www.focac.org\/eng\/zfgx_4\/jmhz\/202608\/t20260827_12011278.htm<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    China announced that it would implement a zero-tariff policy on all tariff lines for products from 53 African countries with diplomatic ties with China\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1747,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","_regnews_id":"35356","_hsn_citations":"[{\"n\":1,\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.mofcom.gov.cn\/syxwfb\/art\/2026\/art_18ff89e6cb2e43b7b2e76066a270c8ee.html\",\"label\":\"China Implements Full-Scale Zero Tariff Measures for 53 African Diplomatic Partners\"},{\"n\":2,\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.mofcom.gov.cn\/xwfb\/sjfzrfb\/art\/2026\/art_eb89a23715fa49cf87c245c1d0710842.html\",\"label\":\"China Implements Zero Tariff Measures for 53 African Countries Effective May 1\"},{\"n\":3,\"url\":\"https:\/\/lagos.china-consulate.gov.cn\/eng\/zlgxw\/202608\/t20260820_12007025.htm\",\"label\":\"Keynote Speech by Chinese Consul General in Lagos Mrs. Yan Yuqing at the Seminar on China\u2019s Zero-Tariff Measures and Africa\u2019s Economic Structural Transformation\"},{\"n\":4,\"url\":\"https:\/\/ly.china-embassy.gov.cn\/lbyyw\/202606\/t20260602_11923088.htm\",\"label\":\"China and Africa in the Zero-Tariff Era\"},{\"n\":5,\"url\":\"http:\/\/www.focac.org\/eng\/zfgx_4\/jmhz\/202608\/t20260827_12011278.htm\",\"label\":\"Senegal eyes more processed exports to China under zero-tariff policy\"}]","_hsn_no_sources":"","_hsn_content_hash":"865efed79955e978a65f8cd9d4202da7b005dc15:20b2369419669fd174eb4c37e96a59cb00f695bb","_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":"all products","footnotes":""},"categories":[71],"tags":[67],"class_list":["post-1749","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-trade-agreements-tariffs","tag-china"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hscodematch.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1749","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hscodematch.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hscodematch.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hscodematch.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hscodematch.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1749"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/hscodematch.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1749\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1871,"href":"https:\/\/hscodematch.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1749\/revisions\/1871"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hscodematch.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1747"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hscodematch.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1749"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hscodematch.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1749"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hscodematch.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1749"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}