A truck carrying apples from South Africa clears customs at Shenzhen Bay Port in Guangdong province in the early hours of Friday, as China's zero-tariff policy for 53 African diplomatic partners took effect. MAO SIQIAN/XINHUA
In the early hours of Friday, a truck carrying 24 metric tons of fresh apples from South Africa swiftly cleared customs at Shenzhen Bay Port — Asia's largest land port handling both passenger and cargo traffic — becoming the first shipment to enter China as a new zero-tariff policy covering 53 African countries took effect.
China is the world's first major economy offering such unilateral, full-coverage zero-tariff treatment to all its African diplomatic partners. The nation will continue to sign agreements on economic partnerships for shared development and expand access for African products through upgraded "green lanes" and other trade facilitation measures.
Companies handling African imports are already feeling the change. "The zero-tariff measure is a real benefit for us," said Luo Shengcong, general manager of Shenzhen Kin Shing Yip International Agent Co, a trade logistics company.
Under the previous rules, similar apples imported from South Africa were subject to China's most-favored-nation tariff rate of 10 percent. With the duty now down to zero, the current shipment alone will save about 20,000 yuan ($2,929), Luo said.
The zero-tariff policy aligns with China's broader opening-up agenda. During talks with visiting Mozambican President Daniel Chapo in April in Beijing, President Xi Jinping said that China "has always accorded special priority to Africa in the course of steadily expanding its high-standard opening-up".
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the start of diplomatic relations between China and African countries. African diplomats in Beijing said the zero-tariff policy has added fresh momentum to mutually beneficial Sino-African cooperation.
Hodan Osman, Somalia's ambassador to China, said the policy has opened a strong new phase for Africa-China trade by helping more African products reach Chinese consumers and by attracting investment into production, packaging and export capacity.
Somalia's seafood is among the products with strong export potential, given the country's long coastline on the African mainland and annual seafood output of up to 800,000 metric tons.
China's vast market could encourage African producers to raise their output and improve export conditions, Osman said.
Harry Zevon, Ghana's deputy head of mission in China, described the policy as "quite generous, considering its coverage of 53 countries", noting that the measure further reflects China's interest in the development of Africa and its willingness to share its own development opportunities.
He said the policy could also benefit Ghana's industrialization drive under its "24-Hour Economy Initiative", which aims to process more agricultural products and minerals for domestic and overseas markets.
At a time when some countries are raising tariffs and turning to protectionism, China is sending "the opposite message", Zevon said, calling the measure both a strong form of diplomacy and a smart approach to relations with Africa.
Fredrick P. Malire, a counselor at the Malawian embassy in China, said the policy gives Africa "a great opportunity" to narrow the trade imbalance between the two sides. Malawi, with its strong agricultural base, sees potential in China for products such as soybeans, groundnuts and macadamia nuts, he added.
The diplomats' comments came against the backdrop of a fast-expanding Sino-African trade relationship. China has remained Africa's largest trading partner for 17 consecutive years. Official data shows that in the first quarter of 2026, China-Africa trade increased 23.7 percent year-on-year, with China's imports from Africa up 14.6 percent and exports to the continent up 29 percent.
Lin Jian, a spokesman for China's Foreign Ministry, earlier described the zero-tariff policy as "a golden key to trade prosperity, a propeller to industrial investment, a timely response to challenges, and a bridge connecting the hearts of Chinese and African people".
Against the backdrop of rising protectionism, unilateralism and spillovers from the Middle East situation, Lin said that China is using the zero-tariff measure to bring greater stability to China-Africa ties, thereby contributing to global peace and development.
Susan Mukami, a project coordinator at China Media Group Africa, wrote in Kenyan newspaper Business Daily that gaining access to China's vast consumer market is "not a small thing" for Kenya, and she compared it to being invited to "the biggest buffet in the global economy" without paying an entry fee.
China's messages to Africa are clear — "we are partners", "we respect your sovereignty" and there are "no political conditions", Mukami said.
刚被罚款3.55亿美元后 特朗普“带货”球鞋 中新网2月19日电 据美联社消息，当地时间17日，美国前总统特朗普在一场商业活动中带货了一双“特朗普”牌的金色球鞋，引发热议。 据报道，特朗普当天在费城会议中心举行 中新经纬2月18日电 广铁集团长沙火车站官方微博18日称，2024年2月18日4点24分，兰州开往广州的K225次列车到达长沙站，因列车上一些旅客未在票面到达站下车，继续乘车到前方站，造成列车超员。受其影响，部分正常购票旅客未能 傅园慧称在长白山包车被勒索 当地交通部门：正按流程处理 中新网北京2月17日电(记者 刘星晨)17日，游泳世界冠军傅园慧通过社交平台发布求助帖称，她在吉林长白山包车出行时遭遇勒索，询问网友是否需要报警。 图片 美国国务卿布林肯近日在参加慕安会时说的一句话，可以被解读的空间很大，也值得深入解读一下。他在回答主持人关于“美中紧张局势正在导致更大的分裂”提问时引用了一句美国俚语，称在国际体系当中，“如 中新经纬2月23日电(罗琨 实习生 徐畅)“中国确实是面向未来的全球技术中心，我很高兴又一次来到中国，在这里进行深入研究。”近日，科勒集团全球首席品牌官赛米・巴尔(Samie Barr)在广州接受中新经纬专访时表示。赛米 钛白粉出口热度不减 多公司开启年内第二轮涨价 本报记者 黄 群 近日，国内钛白粉企业再度提价，2024年钛白粉第二轮涨价开启。2月20日，先是龙佰集团、惠云钛业宣布当日上调各型号钛白粉销售价格。2月21日，中核 。本文链接：Zero-tariff policy opens door wider for African importshttp://www.sushuapos.com/show-5-99573-0.html
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