Zero-tariff: China-Africa trade reaches $207 billion in six months – Ambassador
China has announced that its zero-tariff policy for African nations is already enhancing trade and may further accelerate Nigeria’s industrial development. Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, made the statement on Friday during a seminar titled ‘China’s Zero-Tariff Measures and Africa’s Economic Structural Transformation’ held in Abuja. Ambassador Yu noted that Chinese President Xi Jinping…
Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, disclosed Friday during a seminar in Abuja that China's zero-tariff policy for African nations has already bolstered trade, with implications for Nigeria's industrial development. President Xi Jinping announced on February 14 that China would grant zero-tariff treatment to all 53 African countries with diplomatic relations with China starting May 1, 2026.
The seminar focused on the initial economic impacts of China's zero-tariff policy and highlighted Nigeria's pivot from exporting raw materials to promoting domestic manufacturing and industrial processing. Ambassador Yu shared that China-Africa trade surged to $207 billion in the first half of 2026, with Chinese imports from Africa rising by 24 percent year-on-year, reaching $29 billion in May and June.
Nigeria's trade with China increased by 35 percent year-on-year to $18 billion, with Chinese imports of Nigerian goods surging by 80 percent to $2.3 billion. The duty-free access prompted the removal of tariffs on key items such as agricultural exports and cattle bone granules. The Nigerian government commended the duty-free market access but stressed the need for Africa to bolster its domestic productive capacity.
The Minister of State for Agriculture emphasized that natural resources should catalyze economic activity, not merely conclude it.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Post Nigeria's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
