economy

May 1, 2026

China Abolishes Tariffs for All African Countries Except One

China is abolishing tariffs for all African countries except Eswatini, and the extended duty-free regime for 53 countries is expected to be in effect until April 30, 2028.

China Abolishes Tariffs for All African Countries Except One

TL;DR

  • China is removing tariffs for 53 African countries until April 2028, with Eswatini being the sole exception.
  • This move expands Beijing's existing duty-free regime for least developed African countries.
  • Analysts suggest the tariff removal may position China favorably against the US and could potentially boost rural incomes and reduce poverty.
  • However, a significant trade deficit favoring China persists, with African exports largely consisting of raw materials.
  • Limited industrial capacity, weak logistics, and over-reliance on commodity exports in many African economies are seen as constraints that tariff reduction alone cannot solve.
  • The exclusion of Eswatini, which maintains diplomatic relations with Taiwan, is viewed as a political message from Beijing with limited economic impact.

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