The Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council has announced that China will extend zero-tariff treatment to all African countries that maintain diplomatic relations with it starting May 1, 2026.
According to the announcement, the new arrangement will run from May 1, 2026 to April 30, 2028 and will grant zero-tariff treatment in the form of preferential tariff rates to 20 African countries that have diplomatic ties with China but are not classified as least developed countries.
For 33 least developed African countries with diplomatic relations, China has already implemented zero-tariff treatment on 100 percent of tariff lines since December 1, 2024.
With the expansion taking effect on Friday, China will become the first major economy to provide unilateral, full-coverage zero-tariff access to all African countries with which it has diplomatic relations, as well as to all least developed countries with diplomatic ties.