On February 14, President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to the 39th African Union Summit, announcing that starting from May 1, 2026, China will fully implement the zero-tariff treatment for 53 African countries that have established diplomatic relations with China. This is an important step taken by China to implement the outcomes of the 2024 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and to voluntarily expand unilateral opening up. It will create even greater opportunities for China to expand cooperation with Liberia and other African countries.
The zero-tariff treatment witnesses the deepening of China-Africa cooperation. As early as the Second FOCAC Ministerial Conference in 2003, China proposed a zero-tariff policy on certain products exported to China from the least developed countries (LDCs) in Africa, which was implemented from 2005 onward. With the increasing economic and trade exchanges between China and Africa, China had gradually expanded the tariff lines benefiting African countries. At the 2024 FOCAC Beijing Summit, China announced full coverage of zero-tariff lines for the 33 African LDCs and implemented it at the end of 2024. In a short time, the zero-tariff treatment will be extended to all the 53 African countries with diplomatic ties with China, demonstrating China’s increased concessions. This treatment will accelerate the translation of the vast Chinese market into significant opportunities for Africa.
The zero-tariff treatment embodies the original aspiration of China-Africa cooperation. China’s cooperation with Africa adheres to the principle of “leaving no one behind”. China is the first major developing country and a world major economy to implement zero tariffs on African countries. This pioneering move is not only an adjustment to China’s own tariff policy, but also an embodiment of China’s commitment to proactively sharing development dividends with Africa. Since the 2024 FOCAC Beijing Summit, within 3 years, President Xi Jinping has made 3 important policy pronouncements to promote the implementation of the zero-tariff treatment for African countries, which truly demonstrates China’s commitment to the principle of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith and its firm determination to translate its own development opportunities into common benefits of the Chinese and African peoples.
The zero-tariff treatment lights up the future of China-Africa cooperation. In today’s world, hegemonism, unilateralism, and protectionism are rampant, making African countries face even greater difficulties. When Africa is confronted with external shocks, China announced this “great gift” of zero-tariff treatment for African countries, which is providing help in times of need. Zero tariffs, as a combined measure for trade and investment, will mutually reinforce with African countries’ needs to expand exports, attract investment, and increase employment, thereby driving cooperation between China and Africa in multiple fields. As part of China’s commitment to high-standard opening up, we are removing tariffs completely to boost trade, multiply benefits for the people, and help Africa access the enormous opportunities of the Chinese market.
Currently, many African countries are taking advantage of China’s zero-tariff treatment to expand their exports to China. African specialty products, such as Ugandan chili, Gambian cashew nuts, Malawian macadamia nuts, Ethiopian coffee, Kenyan avocado, and Mozambican nuts are reaching households across China. In fact, Liberia is also benefiting from China’s zero-tariff treatment. According to the statistics from the Chinese customs, Liberia’s exports to China increased by 23.9% in 2025, reaching 131 million USD. As the first republic in Africa, Liberia is expected to be at the forefront of expanding exports to China. To realize this, China is willing to work with Liberia to earnestly implement China’s zero-tariff treatment, further promote the export of high-quality Liberian products to China, and benefit the people of both countries.
We may work together to focus on Liberia’s advantageous products. Among other things, Liberia has abundant labor force, excellent harbor conditions, dense forests, high-quality iron ore, robust palm and rubber trees, high-quality cassava, and fragrant coffee and cocoa, giving it advantages in expanding exports and developing an export-oriented economy. The Chinese side is willing to communicate and exchange ideas more with the Liberian side, strengthen the alignment of China’s zero-tariff treatment with Liberia’s development plans in relevant fields, and identify competitive, high-potential, and sustainable export products for Liberia’s expanding exports to China.
We may work together to promote Liberia’s industrial upgrading. Many Liberian friends have told me that Liberia doesn’t lack good products to export, but rather suffers from weak processing capabilities and substandard product standards. China welcomes Liberia’s continuous efforts to optimize its business environment, formulate policies to support agricultural and other exports, and establish a standardized production system. At the same time, the Chinese side hopes our Liberian friends could actively participate in trade and economic activities hosted by China, such as the China International Import Expo, the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo, and the Canton Fair, as well as the booming e-commerce and live-streaming platforms, to accurately connect with the Chinese consumers’ preferences, enhance the brand awareness of Liberian products, and showcase Liberia’s enormous potential. Based on this, more Chinese investments would be attracted to Liberia to agricultural product processing, manufacturing cooperation, etc. With the joint efforts of both sides, a virtuous cycle of “trade-investment-industrial upgrading-expanded exports” will ultimately be formed, translating Liberia’s resource advantages into a driving force for economic and social development.
We may work together to overcome the “last mile” challenge. While implementing its zero-tariff treatment for Africa, by simplifying customs procedures, promoting electronic documentation and mutual recognition of standards, and expanding “green channels” for agricultural product access, China is striving to facilitate greater opportunities for African countries’ expanding export to China. In recent years, the Chinese side has continuously strengthened exchanges and cooperation with Liberia’s economic agencies, introducing China’s regulations on food inspection and quarantine through business training and policy briefings, helping our Liberian friends become familiar with relevant electronic systems for trading with China. The Chinese side is willing to further improve its work in this area, helping more Liberian friends become more familiar with China’s trade rules and facilitating the entry of more high-quality Liberian products into China.
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Africa, and new steps will be taken in building the all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era. China will continue to uphold the principles of sincerity, real results, amity, and good faith and to take the right approach to friendship and interests, strengthen solidarity and cooperation with African countries including Liberia. China will also continue to promote the implementation of the zero-tariff treatment for African countries—a key outcome of the 2024 FOCAC Beijing Summit—and continuously expand the export of high-quality African products to China, so that China-Africa economic and trade relations will flourish, and friendship will be passed down from generation to generation.
