China’s expanded zero tariff policy for African countries came into effect early Friday, with the clearance in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province (southern China), of the first batch of imported goods covered by this new preferential treatment.
In the early hours of the day, at Shenzhen Bay Port, 24 tons of apples imported from South Africa passed customs inspection and were distributed to local supermarkets and wholesale markets.
Thanks to this new zero tariff arrangement, import duties on these apples dropped from 10% to zero.
Trade operators expressed satisfaction with the immediate savings, noting that the policy brings tangible relief. The reduction in tariffs will lower costs and allow fruits to be sold at more affordable prices to Chinese consumers.
“Last year, we imported a total of 12,000 tons of fruit from Africa, mainly South African apples, oranges, and citrus. [With the zero tariff policy,] each container now saves an average of about 20,000 yuan (USD 2,930) in customs duties, with annual savings estimated at around 10 million yuan. Lower import costs will also help reduce market prices,” said Luo Shengcong, General Manager of Shenzhen Jianchengye International Freight Forwarding Co., Ltd.
Trade between China and Africa has continued to grow in recent years. In the first quarter of 2026, Shenzhen’s imports and exports with Africa reached 31.19 billion yuan (USD 4.57 billion), a year‑on‑year increase of 47%. Imports mainly included precious metals, minerals, marble, and diamonds, while exports consisted of electrical equipment, shoes, furniture, and clothing.
For imports into Shenzhen, the latest tariff reductions mainly concern fresh apples, wine, organic chemicals, and raw leather materials. The tariff rate on fresh apples dropped by 10 percentage points, while that on modified ethanol fell by 30 percentage points. The catering, fresh produce, and fine chemicals sectors will directly benefit,” said Xia Yingli, Head of the General Affairs Department of Shenzhen Bay Customs.
On Friday, China extended zero tariff treatment to all 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic relations, expanding the benefits beyond the 33 least developed countries (LDCs) already covered since December 2024. The new policy applies preferential rates to the other 20 African countries for a two‑year period, during which China will encourage the negotiation and signing of the China‑Africa Economic Partnership Agreement for Shared Development, with the aim of establishing zero tariffs as a long‑term mechanism.
Watch the video via this link: https://www.cctvplus.com/news/20260501/8477291.shtml#!language=1
Source: CCTV Video New Agency