It was reported on December 8 that China recently announced zero-tariff treatment on products originating from Angola, Gambia, Mali, Madagascar, Mauritania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The relevant measures will take effect from December 25.

Such zero-tariff treatment covers 98% of tariff lines for products from these African countries, including coffee, palm oil, cotton, cocoa, fruits, seafood and spices. Furthermore, this treatment applies to non-food crops like sisal and rubber.

It is reported that with the improvement in the living standards of Chinese residents, the consumption categories and scale of the 400-million-strong middle class have expanded. Taking coffee as an example, Chinese people's fondness for coffee has grown over the past years, accompanied by a rapid increase in consumption.

Relevant reports noted that this announcement involved the exemption of finished products from tariffs, not merely raw materials. Previously, China's exports to Africa primarily consisted of manufactured goods like textiles, machinery and electronics, while African exports to China were dominated by raw materials and unprocessed products.

It is reported that during the BRICS leaders' summit held in Johannesburg, South Africa in August this year, China pledged to assist African countries in developing industries such as agricultural product processing.

In the approximately two years prior to this, 21 African countries had already enjoyed zero-tariff treatment on 98% of their products exported to China.

It is reported by Chinese media that this measure is conducive to implementing the spirit of China-Africa friendly cooperation and jointly building a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future and will be gradually extended to all least developed countries that have diplomatic ties with China.

Furthermore, Hong Kong's South China Morning Post website reported on December 8 that Beijing announced to grant zero-tariff treatment to 98% of products entering China's vast market from six African countries, bringing them into line with dozens of other countries that have received the same preferential treatment of exemption. This is part of China's initiative to promote agricultural imports from the African Continent.

The Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council announced that starting from December 25, 98% of tariff lines for products originating in Angola, Gambia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Madagascar, Mali and Mauritania will be exempt from import tariffs when entry into China.

It is reported that these countries possess abundant resources, particularly the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Angola, with the former being a major cobalt producer and the latter a leading exporter of oil and diamonds.

Over the past two years, an additional 21 African countries have benefited from China's eliminating 98% of tariff lines for their products.

It is reported that during the 2021 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced China would establish a "green channel" for African agricultural exports to China, expedite quarantine access procedures, and further expand the range of products eligible for zero-tariff treatment from the least developed countries that have diplomatic ties with China.

The Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council stated that it will gradually grant zero-tariff treatment to 98% of tariff lines for all least-developed countries that have diplomatic ties with China. This is expected to exempt relevant countries from tariffs when exporting thousands of tariff-line products to China.

It is reported that this will help China increase its grain imports from Africa. Over the past two decades, China primarily purchased raw materials from the African Continent while exporting electronics, machinery, textiles and the like commodities.

The new measure will also facilitate the Democratic Republic of the Congo in exporting commodities such as coffee, palm oil, rubber, cotton and cocoa to the Chinese market, while Angola's benefiting commodities include coffee, sisal, fruits, seafood and spices, among others.

In the $282 billion bilateral trade between China and Africa in 2022, China's export to Africa accounted for nearly 60%.

It is reported that during the BRICS leaders' summit in August this year, China expressed its intention to assist African countries in increasing food production and establishing relevant processing industries.

"Mandira Bhagwandin, a senior research fellow at the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance at the University of Cape Town in South Africa, stated, 'The Chinese believe that promoting agricultural development and increasing imports from Africa will help narrow the trade deficit.'"

This expert pointed out, "To this end, China has agreed to establish a green channel for African agricultural exports, streamline inspection and quarantine procedures, and increase the number of tariff-free products."