In the early hours of Friday, May 1, 2026, a historic shipment passed through Shenzhen customs. Twenty-four tonnes of South African apples became the first goods to enter the Chinese mainland under an expanded zero-tariff initiative, marking a new chapter in economic cooperation across the continent.
Effective from the stroke of midnight, this policy extends zero-tariff treatment to 53 African nations with which China maintains diplomatic relations. For products like these apples, it means the import duty has dropped from 10% to zero overnight, significantly boosting their price competitiveness on supermarket shelves across the country.
This expansion builds on a foundation laid in December 2024, when China first implemented zero-tariff treatment for imports from 33 least-developed African countries. The latest move is seen as a major step that will inject robust momentum into China-Africa trade and investment cooperation, supporting broader development goals.
The swift clearance of this inaugural shipment symbolizes the practical benefits of the policy, directly linking African producers to one of the world's largest consumer markets. Analysts anticipate this will encourage a wider range of African agricultural and manufactured goods to flow into China, fostering deeper economic integration.
Reference(s):
China clears first import shipment under zero-tariff policy for Africa
cgtn.com
