From May 1, 2026, China will fully implement zero-tariff treatment on 100 percent of tariff lines for goods from 53 African countries with diplomatic relations, injecting new impetus into the high-quality development of China-Africa economic and trade cooperation, as introduced at a press conference held by Changsha Customs on April 17. The initiative is expected to bolster Hunan’s foreign trade and advance the development of the Pilot Zone for In-depth China-Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation.

Wider scope of tariff preferences to bolster trade with Africa

Since December 1, 2024, China has granted zero-tariff treatment on 100 percent of tariff lines to 33 least developed African countries with diplomatic ties.

By the first quarter of 2026, Changsha Customs had processed a cumulative 26.98 million CNY in tariff reductions for imports from these countries. The preferential policies have driven import growth. According to customs statistics, Hunan’s imports from Africa reached 30.92 billion CNY in 2025, up 27.2 percent, while imports in the first quarter of 2026 totaled 7.04 billion CNY, up 21.9 percent.

At present, Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria, Morocco and Tunisia are Hunan’s primary import partners in Africa, none of which are classified as least developed countries (LDCs). From January 2025 to March 2026, tariffs levied on imports from these five countries totaled 9.43 million CNY, accounting for 98.1 percent of all tariffs levied on African imports. The move to grant zero-tariff treatment to 53 African countries starting May 1 will significantly expand the scope of beneficiaries, further driving the growth of Hunan’s imports from the continent.

Facilitating imports of African agricultural products

In recent years, Hunan has diversified its imports from Africa, such as fresh pineapples from Benin and coffee beans from Ethiopia in 2025, as well as cocoa beans from Uganda in 2026. With the zero-tariff policy effective on May 1, imports of specialty products such as macadamia nuts from South Africa and fresh avocados from Kenya are expected to expand, meeting consumers’ demand for higher-quality and more diversified products.

Supporting optimization of global supply chains for Hunan’s advanced manufacturing and strategic emerging industries

At present, many manufacturers in Hunan import components from countries such as Tunisia, Morocco and Egypt. As these countries are not LDCs, their imports are subject to tariff rates ranging from 7 to 10 percent. The policy effective on May 1 is set to substantially reduce production costs for these manufacturers, thereby facilitating supply chain optimization.

Furthermore, Hunan has seen a growing trend in imports of biopharmaceutical raw materials, notably rosemary from Morocco and Tunisia and cassia seeds from Nigeria. In 2025, the province imported such materials worth 8.27 million CNY, up 12.8 times year on year. Following the policy shift on May 1, these products will be eligible for tariff reductions of 6 to 8 percentage points, a move that will bolster the development of the local biopharmaceutical sector.

Building the Pilot Zone for In-depth China-Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation stands as a strategic task of the China (Hunan) Pilot Free Trade Zone. According to a customs official, Changsha Customs will actively implement China’s zero-tariff commitment to African countries with diplomatic ties, ensure its effective implementation, strengthen policy communication, optimize tariff collection and administration procedures, and enable foreign trade enterprises in Hunan to fully benefit from the preferential policies.

Disclaimer:

This is an English translation of the original Chinese version and is provided for reference only. In the event of any discrepancy, the Chinese version shall prevail.