Home China to Scrap Tariffs for Most African Countries

China to Scrap Tariffs for Most African Countries

February 14, 2026

BEIJING, CHINA - OCTOBER 23: Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks at the podium during the meeting between members of the standing committee of the Political Bureau of the 20th CPC Central Committee and Chinese and foreign journalists at The Great Hall of People on October 23, 2022 in Beijing, China. China's ruling Communist Party today revealed the new Politburo Standing Committee after its 20th congress. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)

Chinese President Xi Jinping announced Saturday that China will remove tariffs on imports from all African countries except Eswatini starting May 1, state media reported.

China already maintains a zero-tariff policy for 33 African nations, but last year, Beijing said it would extend the policy to all 53 of its diplomatic partners on the continent.

Xi said the move “will undoubtedly provide new opportunities for African development,” announcing the date as leaders gathered in Ethiopia for the annual African Union summit.

Eswatini is excluded from the agreement because it maintains diplomatic relations with Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory and has not ruled out taking by force.

China is Africa’s largest trading partner and a major backer of infrastructure projects through its Belt and Road Initiative.

Many African countries have increasingly turned to China and other trade partners following steep US tariffs imposed worldwide last year under President Donald Trump.

Author

Jimisayo Opanuga

Jimisayo Opanuga is a web writer in the Digital Department at News Central TV, where she covers African and international stories. Her reporting focuses on social issues, health, justice, and the environment, alongside general-interest news. She is passionate about telling stories that inform the public and give voice to underreported communities.