BEIJING, April 28 — China will expand zero-tariff treatment to all African countries that have diplomatic relations with it starting May 1, 2026, the Chinese authorities announced today.
Xinhua reported that from Friday (May 1) to April 30, 2028, Beijing will grant zero-tariff treatment, in the form of a preferential tariff rate, to 20 African countries that have established diplomatic ties with China and are not classified as the least developed countries.
The Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council announced that for 33 least developed African countries with diplomatic relations, China has already granted zero-tariff treatment on 100 per cent of tariff lines since December 1, 2024.
With the expanded policy taking effect on Friday, China will become the first major economy to provide unilateral, full-coverage zero-tariff treatment to all African countries with diplomatic ties, and to all least developed countries with diplomatic relations.
