China’s President Xi is reducing the tariffs of 53 African countries to zero as a “gesture of solidarity and opportunity for economic growth for Africa”.Image: IMAGO
While Donald Trump peppers the world with tariffs, China is doing the opposite. Imports from almost all African countries will be exempt from customs duties from May 1, 2026. Here are the three most important points.
Mar 17, 2026, 6:23 p.mMar 17, 2026, 6:41 p.m
From May 1, 2026, tariffs will no longer apply to Chinese imports from 53 African countries. The only exception to the new customs regime is Eswatini (formerly Swaziland). China describes the new regulation as a “gesture of solidarity and an opportunity for economic growth for Africa”.
Why is China cutting tariffs?
With this maneuver, China is positioning itself as a counterpoint to the USA. “China is filling the gap that America leaves behind because they treat Africa badly,” says Rolf Langhammer, an economist at the Kiel Institute for the World Economy who focuses on international trade and developing and emerging countries FAZ. While Donald Trump is increasing tariffs in various African countries and making trade more difficult, the Middle Kingdom presents itself as an attractive alternative. China is strengthening its economic diplomacy and soft power in places where the US is doing the opposite.
For over 20 years, 32 African countries have been able to sell over 1,800 products duty-free to the USA. In September 2025, Donald Trump allowed the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade agreement responsible for this to expire. Instead, the USA imposed at least ten percent tariffs on partner countries on Liberation Day.
In February, the US government extended the agreement retroactively until December 31, 2026. However, the tariff exemptions are being overshadowed by Trump’s punitive tariffs in some industries and countries. Compared to the ten-year extension at the last renewal in 2015, the extension until the end of 2026 is relatively short. Certain requirements apply to AGOA states, such as a free market economy or democratic standards. The Trump administration now wants to modernize the agreement and adapt it to the America First trade policy.
In addition to the antithesis of Trump’s America, other factors also speak in favor of China’s new tariff policy. As Cobus van Staden, China-Africa researcher at the South African Institute of International Affairs in Johannesburg, said FAZ said that food supply through diversification is an important driver of China’s policy. “China only deals with things if it can achieve multiple goals, both political, geopolitical and economic.” This could therefore also be a safeguard against excessive discontent.
The Chinese export surplus in trade with Africa has increased more than fivefold since 2019. China wants to strengthen the cohesion of the countries of the Global South, said Cobus van Staden.
The case of Eswatini
China is jumping into the gap left by the USA. However, the Eswatini case shows that certain requirements also apply to trade with China. The small country in southern Africa is said to be the only African country not to benefit from Chinese tariff exemption. In contrast to the other 53 African states, the kingdom maintains close diplomatic relations with Taiwan and is economically closely linked to the island nation. By excluding Eswatini, China’s government is showing that solidarity and growth are tied to China’s diplomatic priorities.
Taiwan’s former President Tsai Ing-wen visits King Mswati III. for Eswatini’s 50th birthday.Image: KEYSTONE
Do African countries benefit from this?
Like Rolf Langhammer in the FAZ believes that the tariff relief will not change much in trade relations. For Africa it is about the three industries: raw materials, textiles and agriculture. Chinese investors in the textile sector would primarily benefit from the tariff reduction.
Almost two thirds of goods exported from Africa are raw materials such as crude oil, gold, copper, iron and aluminum. However, tariffs on raw materials are already low today. Here too, many exporters are Chinese investors who own mines in Africa.
In agriculture, other trade barriers such as food standards are more important than tariffs. China has strict regulations on food imports, which are not being relaxed. According to Cape Town trade economist Eckart Neumann, African industrial manufacturers are usually not competitive on the Chinese market, regardless of whether tariffs apply or not.
However, it is also clear that African countries have very different economic areas and will therefore benefit to different extents from China’s zero tariff policy. Economically stronger countries such as Morocco or South Africa may be able to use the agreement to avoid high US tariffs. According to von Staden, economically poorer countries like Liberia will find it difficult to become a trading partner for China beyond registering ships. (Nile)