China to Scrap Import Tariffs on Goods from 53 African Countries

China will remove all import duties on goods from 53 African countries starting May 1, aiming to boost access to its large market and strengthen trade ties. Trade between China and Africa has grown significantly over the years, reaching $348 billion in 2025. However, China exports far more to Africa than it imports, creating a large trade deficit for the continent. Most African exports to China are raw materials like oil and minerals, showing limited product diversity despite increasing trade volumes.

China has announced that it will eliminate all customs duties on imports from 53 African countries, with the exception of Eswatini, starting from May 1. The move is part of Beijing’s broader strategy to provide African nations with easier and more direct access to one of the largest consumer markets in the world. The new policy will apply to a wide variety of goods, potentially expanding trade opportunities across multiple sectors.
Trade between China and Africa has experienced significant growth over the past two decades. In 2000, total trade volume stood at $10 billion, rising sharply to $114 billion by 2010 and reaching $187 billion in 2020. This upward trajectory continued in recent years, with trade increasing to $278 billion in 2023, $295.6 billion in 2024, and an estimated $348 billion in 2025. This growth has been largely driven by strengthening economic ties and cooperation between China and African countries.
Despite the expansion in trade, China’s exports to Africa have consistently exceeded its imports from the continent. In 2024, China exported goods worth $179 billion to Africa, while African exports to China ranged between $99 billion and $116 billion, according to data from China’s General Administration of Customs (GACC). By 2025, Chinese exports to Africa rose further to $225 billion, while Africa exported goods worth $123 billion to China. This imbalance resulted in a trade deficit for Africa exceeding $60 billion in 2024 and widening to around $100 billion in 2025.
China continues to hold its position as Africa’s largest trading partner and the biggest source of imports to the continent. In 2024, China accounted for $82 billion of Africa’s global exports. In comparison, the United Arab Emirates contributed $41 billion, while Italy and France each accounted for $35 billion, based on data from the United Nations.
The scale of China’s involvement in Africa’s trade highlights a significant gap between it and other trading partners. China represents approximately 22% of Africa’s total trade, and about 25% of all imports into the continent originate from China. While African exports to China have also increased over time, this growth has largely been concentrated in a narrow range of commodities.
Approximately 69% of Africa’s exports to China consist of natural resources such as oil, gold, copper, aluminium, and iron ore. This pattern underscores the continent’s heavy dependence on raw materials in its trade relationship with China. Although overall trade volumes have risen, the diversity of products exported from Africa remains limited, with relatively low contributions from agricultural and manufactured goods.