The Chinese government has announced plans to grant Nigeria and 52 other African nations full duty-free access to its vast consumer market, as part of its policy shift set to reshape Africa-China trade relations.
The new trade initiative, disclosed by President Xi Jinping in a letter to African foreign ministers, will extend zero-tariff treatment to 100 per cent of tariff lines for all African countries maintaining diplomatic ties with the Asian giant.
The move builds on a previous policy that benefited only 33 least-developed African nations and is part of China’s broader strategy to deepen economic cooperation with the continent amid intensifying trade tensions with the United States.
The results are already being felt as Chinese exports to Africa surged 12.4 per cent in the first five months of the year, reaching a record 963 billion Yuan ($134 billion), according to China’s Foreign Ministry.
The implementation of this policy could allow all Nigerian goods, from agricultural produce and manufactured items to solid minerals, enter the Chinese market without the burden of import duties. It could also help drive Nigeria’s exports higher and drive revenue for the country.
The announcement comes at a critical time, as over 30 African countries, including Nigeria, face the risk of being excluded from the United States’ African Growth and Opportunity Act, a preferential trade agreement that once allowed eligible nations to export goods to the US duty-free.
For Nigeria, the proposed duty-free access could significantly boost non-oil exports, especially in sectors like agriculture, textiles, solid minerals, and manufactured goods, areas where the country has long sought to diversify.
China is also trying to boost its partnership with other regions as it faces increased scrutiny and a tariff war with President Donald Trump of the United States, who has alleged unfair trade practices. This led to hikes in tariffs between both countries until they were paused recently to allow for more negotiations.