China will cancel customs duties on 53 African countries starting from the beginning of next May
BEIJING, 15 FEBRUARY (WAM) – China announced yesterday, Saturday, that it will implement, starting from the beginning of next May, a complete customs exemption system that includes all products imported from 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic relations.
A letter from Chinese President Xi Jinping, addressed to the rotating president of the African Union, João Lorenzo, and to the head of the union’s commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssef, on the occasion of the organization’s thirty-ninth summit, stated that China will implement, as of May 1, 2026, in full, the customs duty exemption procedure towards 53 African countries with which it maintains diplomatic relations.
Xi said that his country intends, in addition to canceling customs duties, to accelerate the signing of a structured economic agreement and facilitate the entry of African exports into the Chinese market, especially by improving the “Green Channel” and other mechanisms to simplify and accelerate import procedures.
In the message, the Chinese President noted the progress made by Africa in the field of regional integration, reaffirming his country’s will to strengthen the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Africa, in an international context characterized by escalating trade tensions and the return of protectionist tendencies.
This measure aims to encourage the gradual rebalancing of trade exchanges, which are still structurally tilted in favor of China, by stimulating African exports, especially those with higher added value, towards the Chinese market.
According to data from the General Administration of Customs of China, the volume of trade exchanges between China and Africa reached $348.05 billion in 2025, an increase of 17.7% on an annual basis.
Chinese exports recorded an increase of 25.8%, reaching $225.03 billion, while imports from Africa increased by 5.4%, reaching $123.02 billion.
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