The Popular Republic of China has decided to apply zero tariff treatment on almost 98% of its imports from 9 African countries. These are Burkina Faso, Benin, Lesotho, Guinea Bissau, Sao Tome and Principe, Zambia, Uganda, Tanzania and Malawi. This measure shall enter into force on 1st December 2022.
Beijing’s initiative aims to increase its imports from the African continent. Indeed, during the China-Africa summit held in November 2021, Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed his government’s desire to increase Chinese imports from Africa to $100 billion per year from 2022, and then to $300 billion per year by 2035.
Thus, the same measure has previously been in force since 1 September for 16 of the world’s least developed countries, including nine in Africa. The latter also benefit from the elimination of customs duties on 98% of products imported into China.
The “measure is conducive to opening up with win-win results, building an open global economy and helping the least developed countries to accelerate their development,” explained the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council of the PRC.
As the world’s largest importer of agri-food products, it is in China’s interest to work for Africa’s economic development. The agri-food industry remains the leading employer on the continent. Moreover, while almost all Chinese exports to Africa are finished products (textiles, machinery, electronics, etc.), African exports to Xi Jinping’s country are largely dominated by raw materials and unprocessed products.
According to the Chinese customs agency, Chinese goods sold in Africa in 2021 amounted to USD 254 billion. While African exports to China amounted to USD 25 billion. Perhaps the measure will change the trade deficit between China and Africa.
