On May 1, China’s “comprehensive zero-tariff regime” on all imports from the 53 African countries with which it has relations took effect. The policy applies to all countries on the continent minus Eswatini (which still has diplomatic relations with Taiwan, not China), no matter their size, politics, or economic circumstances.
The Chinese English-language daily, Global Times, ran an [article]() on April 29 and an [editorial] the following day, emphasizing that the significance of the policy goes beyond its (useful) short-term effect of expanding African exports to China, to its potential importance in accelerating the industrialization of the African continent.
“What the zero-tariff policy will bring is not just a change in trade figures, but a strong and sustainable new driving force for Africa’s in-depth integration into the global industrial chain and the development of its manufacturing industry,” the article argued. “As zero tariffs lower the threshold for African processed products to enter the Chinese market, it makes commercial sense for international companies to set up assembly or processing facilities on the continent, taking advantage of local cost competitiveness while targeting the Chinese market…..
