China’s State Council recently announced the lifting of tariffs on imports from Angola, Gambia, Mali, Madagascar, Mauritania and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The measure, which will come into force on December 25, concerns a variety of products, including coffee, palm oil, cotton, cocoa, fruits, seafood, spices, sisal, rubber, and others.
Until now, these products were subject to taxes upon arrival in China. The move is part of China’s ongoing efforts to strengthen economic cooperation with African countries. It aims to stimulate trade and promote the development of processing industries in these nations.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni recently called for a wider opening of the Chinese market to processed coffee, and this measure appears to respond to these calls. The announcement also follows the commitment made by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Brics summit in Johannesburg last August, where he promised to help African countries develop their processing industries.
Zero customs duty, which covers 98% of taxable products from these countries, is seen as an initiative to strengthen China-Africa friendship and facilitate the creation of a high-quality China-Africa community and common destiny. The press release from the Chine Nouvelle agency specifies that this tariff exemption policy will be extended to all the least developed African countries with which China has established diplomatic relations.
Trade between China and the African continent reached nearly 218 billion euros during the first ten months of 2023, including around 85 billion euros of imports of African products. This decision should further stimulate these exchanges and strengthen economic ties between China and Africa.
