China’s Zero-Tariff Trade Move: Is Beijing Attempting to Snatch Africa from Washington?

The disruptions in global trade following the sweeping tariffs announced by the Trump Administration seem to be far from over, as China is set to cause another major disruption. The Asian giant has announced that it would remove all tariffs on African exports.

This is likely to send ripples through the global trade architecture.  In an announcement on June 12, Beijing says all African countries, with the exception of Eswatini, will receive zero tariffs on all their exports to China.

According to analysts, this move by China is an attempt to leverage trade and investment partnerships to ease pressure and expand its global influence. Moreover, the zero tariff initiative is seen as part of a strategic bid to reinforce economic alliances with African countries seeking alternatives to Western markets and financing.

Others also see it as a response to counter the Donald Trump administration‘s tariffs. China’s bold policy shift could signal a turning point in Africa’s trade relations with the US. Potentially, there could be a slow but significant rerouting of Africa’s trade flows from the West to the East.

Africa’s Trade with Both China & the U.S.

Africa’s commercial ties with China and the U.S. have grown in vastly different trajectories. The US, in the early 2000s, introduced the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) to facilitate its trade with Africa. Over the years, trade between Africa and China has increased to billions of dollars.  

In 2023, China-Africa trade soared to an astonishing $282 billion. The figure rose to hit $295 billion in 2024. China, for the 16th consecutive time, has remained Africa’s largest trading partner.

 On the other end, according to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), U.S.–Africa trade in 2024 amounted to USD 71.6 billion. Total exports to Africa amounted to USD 32.1 billion, while imports from Africa also USD 39.5 billion.

Interestingly, while China records a trade surplus with Africa, the U.S. records a deficit.

The Impact of the New Trade Policy of China

With China being Africa’s largest bilateral trade partner, and with its latest tariff-waiver policy, the Asian giant appears determined to widen that lead. The new zero-tariff regime applies to all African exports to China, giving African nations unprecedented access to the world’s second-largest economy.

This includes agricultural products, minerals, textiles, and manufactured goods, many of which are also major AGOA export items to the U.S. The difference?

AGOA is limited in scope, conditional, and subject to periodic renewal by the U.S. Congress. China’s offer, by contrast, is broad, unconditional, and immediate.

With zero tariffs now on the table, it is expected that African exports like cocoa, coffee, apparel, and precious minerals will be rerouted to China, where trade is now easier, cheaper, and less encumbered by bureaucratic strings.

AGOA’s Uncertainty Worsens Situation

AGOA is set to expire in September 2025. Its renewal remains uncertain, as the conversation about a possible renewal is highly polarized. The AGOA also comes with eligibility criteria tied to democratic governance and labor rights, which have led to the suspension of some countries like Ethiopia and Mali.

By contrast, China’s zero-tariff policy appears devoid of political conditionalities. At the time, African leaders are desperate for foreign exchange, job creation, and economic transformation; they are unlikely to wait for Washington to untangle its legislative hurdles.

China’s tariff move is not occurring in isolation. It follows years of heavy infrastructure investments through the Belt and Road Initiative, the establishment of industrial parks in Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Zambia, and the opening of the first Chinese overseas military base in Africa.

What Does the Future Hold?

For now, the odds seem to be in favor of China when it comes to Africa’s trade relations. However, the U.S. still has tools at its disposal. A renewed, expanded, and reimagined AGOA could reassert America’s trade relevance. Strengthening investments in regional value chains, infrastructure, and digital trade could offer a viable counterweight to China’s presence.

But time is of the essence. As more African firms and governments are likely to recalibrate their export strategies to target China. The zero-tariff announcement is not just a policy change; it is a paradigm shift.

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