This post was originally published on this site.
South Africa said it has taken a step toward securing duty-free access to the Chinese market after its trade minister signed a framework economic partnership agreement during an official visit to China.
The move comes as Africa’s most industrialised economy seeks to boost exports amid an ongoing tariff dispute with the United States, its second-largest bilateral trading partner after China, according to Bloomberg.
ADVERTISEMENT
In August, U.S. President Donald Trump imposed a 30% tariff on South African exports, the highest rate applied to any country in sub-Saharan Africa.
South Africa exports nearly 7.5% of its goods to the US, according to the Financial Times. Yet South Africa accounts for just 0.25% of total US imports — a figure that government officials argue makes the tariff “inscrutable” and unjustified.
Against this backdrop, Trade and Industry Minister Parks Tau and China’s Commerce Minister Wang Wentao signed a “Framework Agreement on Economic Partnership for Shared Prosperity,” South Africa’s trade ministry said.
Path to duty-free access
ADVERTISEMENT
The framework is expected to be followed by an “Early Harvest Agreement” by the end of March 2026, which would grant duty-free access to South African exports to China.
China said last June that it would eliminate tariffs on imports from the 53 African countries with which it maintains diplomatic relations, following the rollout of U.S. tariffs globally.
South Africa’s trade ministry said deeper trade ties with China would open new opportunities for local businesses, particularly in sectors such as mining and agriculture.