China Pledges Non-Reciprocal
Zero-Tariff Access for South Africa Under Expanded Africa Trade Plan
Envoy makes the pledge as Beijing prepares
to roll out tax-free access to the Chinese market for goods from 53 African nations
China
will not require South Africa to lower its own tariffs in exchange for tax-free
access to the Chinese market, Beijing’s ambassador to Pretoria has said, as
China prepares to extend zero-tariff treatment to 53 African nations from May
1.
Chinese
ambassador Wu Peng said Beijing would “fully accommodate South Africa’s
interests and will not seek reciprocity,” easing concerns that Pretoria might
have to cut duties on Chinese imports—particularly vehicles—in return.
The
pledge follows remarks by President Xi Jinping to the African Union Summit in
Addis Ababa, where he promised full implementation of expanded zero-tariff
measures and an upgraded “green channel” to speed African exports into China.
The move
comes as several African economies seek to diversify export markets after the
United States imposed a 30% blanket tariff on South African imports last year.
Earlier
this month, South African Trade Minister Parks Tau signed a framework economic
partnership agreement in Beijing, paving the way for an “early harvest”
deal—seen as a precursor to a full free-trade agreement—by the end of March.
Tau has indicated the arrangement would include safeguards to protect sensitive
sectors, notably the automotive industry.
Economists
say the primary beneficiaries are likely to be South Africa’s agricultural and
mining sectors, which have faced higher Chinese tariffs than competitors such
as Peru, Chile and Australia that already have trade agreements with Beijing.
South
Africa remains China’s largest African trading partner, with two-way trade
reaching US$53.58 billion in 2025, including US$30.58 billion in South African
exports. While farmers and miners stand to gain, analysts caution that deeper
reciprocal liberalisation could expose domestic manufacturing and auto
industries to intensified Chinese competition.
China
will not seek reciprocity in its latest trade agreement with South Africa, its ambassador
said, as Beijing prepares to roll out an expanded zero-tariff policy for African
nations from May 1.
The
deal means South African goods can enter the Chinese market tax-free without any
requirement for Pretoria to reciprocate by lowering its own import duties on products
from China.
“In
this process, China will fully accommodate South Africa’s interests and will not
seek reciprocity,” Chinese ambassador to South Africa Wu Peng said on Saturday
(14.02.2026).
It
came after President Xi Jinping gave an assurance to the African Union Summit –
held in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa last week – that China would fully implement
the zero-tariff measures for 53 African nations from May 1.
The
Chinese envoy’s remarks have eased concerns in South Africa over a potential requirement
for a reciprocal agreement that could have hurt its car industry.
Beijing’s
economic sweetener comes as some African nations – facing higher tariffs in the
United States – are seeking to diversify their markets. The US imposed a 30 per
cent blanket tariff on South African imports last year.
In
a message sent to the African Union Summit on Saturday, Xi pledged to expand Chinese
market access for African products with an upgraded “green channel” and through
other measures.
“These
are new measures by China to expand high-level opening-up and will undoubtedly provide
new opportunities for African development and for China and Africa to jointly pursue
their dream of modernisation,” Xi said.
Early
this month, South African trade minister Parks Tau signed a framework economic partnership
agreement with China during a visit to Beijing. That is expected to lay the foundation
for an “early harvest” deal – a step towards a full free-trade agreement – by the
end of March.
Tau
has said the early harvest agreement would include “safeguards” to protect South
African industries, particularly the automotive sector.
Pretoria
had in January threatened to raise tariffs on Chinese and Indian vehicles to curb
a surge of imports from the two nations.
East
African nation Kenya has already signed an early harvest agreement with China that
allows its products to enter the Chinese market duty-free.
That
preliminary arrangement secured zero-tariff treatment for 98.2 per cent of Kenyan
exports into China while negotiations continued for 100 per cent market access for
all remaining products.
Kai
Xue, a Beijing-based corporate lawyer who advises on foreign direct investment and
cross-border financing, said an early harvest agreement would also benefit Chinese
firms in South Africa.
According
to Xue, non-reciprocal tariff-free access across Africa aimed to reinforce the viability
of special economic zones and industrial parks where many Chinese firms were operating.
He
said that kind of market access was needed for export-oriented factories to take
off. Xue gave the example of Ethiopia, where Chinese-backed textile and light manufacturing
exports have been successful.
Officials
in Pretoria had feared that its participation in the Southern African Customs Union
could be a deal-breaker for Beijing because another member, eSwatini, maintained
diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
But
Beijing’s commerce ministry in November said it would work with individual nations
on trade agreements rather than the bloc.
According
to Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist of the Agricultural
Business Chamber of South Africa, the economy’s primary sector – particularly farmers
and miners – would be the biggest beneficiaries of the trade deal.
He
said the agricultural sector had struggled for some time due to higher tariffs in
China compared to competitors such as Peru, Chile and Australia that already had
free-trade agreements in place.
South
Africa is China’s largest African trading partner and exports products such as wine,
fruit, grains, rooibos tea and a range of minerals to the Asian economic giant.
Two-way
trade in 2025 stood at US$53.58 billion, with South African exports to China accounting
for US$30.58 billion of that total.
“The
dilemma, however, lies with other sectors of our economy, such as the auto industry
and manufacturing, among others, where deeper, reciprocal tariff reductions with
China would pose significant competition,” Sihlobo said.