Zero-tariff policy opens new opportunities for China-Africa trade – News Agency of Nigeria
Trade
By Hafsah Tilde/Abbas Bamalli
Beijing, Sept. 11, 2026 (NAN) A Xinhua News Agency senior journalist, Wang Jiang, says China’s zero-tariff policy for African goods is already boosting trade and ties between both sides.
Wang said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, on the sidelines of the Seminar on Broadcasting Convergence and Communication Capacity Building for Young Nigerian Media Professionals in Beijing, China.
“Now in Beijing we can see African fruits in supermarkets, like South African apples and more coffee from Africa. It has enriched people’s choices,” Jiang said.
He said demand for African products in China is growing.
“We want more qualified African products in China.”
He added that the policy was also attracting more Chinese investment to Africa.
“More Chinese companies are planning to invest in Africa because products made there will be more competitive without tariffs,” he said.
He noted that African traders are coming to China in larger numbers to buy made-in-China goods, which are now cheaper.
“With zero tariffs, Chinese products in Africa will have lower prices. Our African friends will enjoy more Chinese products,” he said.
He cited Hunan Province as an example of growing China-Africa business ties.
“More African companies are coming to China to look for trade opportunities because costs are now lower,” he said.
Wang said the policy was also deepening people-to-people relations.
“It is a people-to-people exchange. Africans and Chinese are enjoying each other’s products. Our friendship will be stronger,” he said.
He added that the policy would also strengthen government relations.
“Unlike the West that imposes tariffs, China and Africa have removed them. This will do good to our people,” he said.
NAN reports that the Zero Tariff policy, which took effect on May 1, grants duty-free access to goods from all 53 African countries with which China has diplomatic ties.
The policy extends zero tariffs to 20 non-Least Developed Countries including Nigeria, Kenya and Egypt.
It builds on an earlier decision that gave 100 per cent duty-free access to 33 African Least Developed Countries from Dec. 1, 2024.
Goods that previously faced tariffs of eight per cent to 30 per cent, such as cocoa, coffee, avocados, citrus and wine, will now enter duty-free if they meet rules of origin.
The Ministry of Commerce said the policy is designed to lower costs, give African products a competitive edge, and attract more investment in processing in Africa.
On development, he said African industries and jobs would benefit because China needs more imports.
“China needs a lot of goods, especially from Africa. More Africans export to China, which will create more jobs in Africa,” he said.
On challenges, he mentioned travel. “There are difficulties with travel convenience for exporters. The media can help by promoting trade stories,” he added.
On Nigeria-China relations, he said the gains would be similar to those across Africa.
“It is the same for Nigeria and for Africa,” he said. (NAN)
TIL/AABS/IS
Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz