China on May 1 began a 2-year tariff-free policy on a range of African goods, including seafood, rare earths, frozen meat, iron ore, manganese and other critical raw materials, in a bid to reduce its trade imbalance with Africa. [1]
The exemption also covers products such as cocoa from Ivory Coast and Ghana, Kenyan coffee and South African wine. Before the cuts, those goods faced tariffs of up to 22% for cocoa, 30% for coffee and 20% for wine. [1]
The tariff relief applies only if the products meet origin, inspection and quarantine requirements. [1]
The policy is set to run for 2 years from May 1, 2026. [1] Analysts say tariff cuts alone are unlikely to fully rebalance trade and argue that more investment in Africa's industrial capacity will be needed for a more even trade relationship with China. [1]
