On May 1, a shipment of South African apples became the first cargo to enter China under a new trade agreement. Twenty-four tonnes of fruit arrived at Shenzhen Bay Port with zero tariffs, saving about 20,000 yuan. This marked the beginning of an important change in trade between China and Africa.
Starting on May 1, China has removed tariffs on imports from 53 African countries that have diplomatic relations with Beijing. This policy will continue until April 30, 2028. China's government said it was the first major economy to offer this kind of treatment to all African nations.
Many African agricultural products can now enter China duty-free. These include cocoa, coffee, citrus, wine, avocados and oilseeds. Some of these goods previously had tariffs as high as 30 percent. South Africa and Kenya are among the biggest beneficiaries, with their citrus, wine, avocados and tea products now facing no tariffs.
China-Africa trade reached a record 348 billion dollars in 2025. However, some analysts say the agreement masks a trade imbalance, as Chinese goods still flow into African markets in much larger volumes.
Beijing describes this as a temporary step while it negotiates a longer-term agreement. By 2028, this preference may either become permanent or expire. For now, South African apples are already reaching Chinese store shelves.