# China waives African import duties to lock in strategic ores *Beijing’s tariff exemption across 53 countries accelerated imports of copper, lithium and farm produce through July, insulating supply chains from Western trade barriers.* **Published:** September 8, 2026 **By:** Hao Feng **Section:** Trade & Industrial Policy — China **Format:** Policy Tracker **Confidence:** high **Source:** https://eastasiabrief.com/trade-policy/china-waives-african-import-duties-lock-strategic-ores-210 **Publisher:** East Asia Brief (https://eastasiabrief.com/) --- ## What to know - China’s General Administration of Customs recorded a sharp rise in African resource inflows on Sept. - The State Council Customs Tariff Commission eliminated import duties on 100% of tariff lines on May 1 under Announcement No. - Customs data showed the policy shift accelerated inbound trade immediately. ![Port cranes unload bulk resources from a docked cargo ship into waiting trucks at an active shipping terminal in China. (AI-generated image)](https://eastasiabrief.com/media/2026-09-07-71bc5a5a37e1.webp) *Port cranes unload bulk resources from a docked cargo ship into waiting trucks at an active shipping terminal in China. (AI-generated image)* China’s General Administration of Customs recorded a sharp rise in African resource inflows on Sept. 7, driven by Beijing’s unilateral zero-tariff regime covering 53 partner nations across the continent. The State Council Customs Tariff Commission eliminated import duties on 100% of tariff lines on May 1 under Announcement No. 5 of 2026. The measure expanded earlier concessions granted to 33 least developed countries. Customs data showed the policy shift accelerated inbound trade immediately. Chinese imports from Africa grew 21.1% year on year in May and expanded 40.2% in June, well outpacing overall import growth. Critical minerals led the surge as domestic refiners sought raw feedstocks. Unwrought copper imports from African producers rose more than 110% in May to $1.65 billion, customs returns showed. Purchases of energy-transition metals posted steep gains. Inbound shipments of platinum and lithium-bearing spodumene climbed as battery manufacturers expanded production quotas in central and eastern provinces. Specialty industrial metals followed the same trajectory. Inbound volumes of rhodium powder, an input for industrial catalytic processes, surged nearly fivefold in May to exceed $125 million in value. Energy shipments remained the largest single import category by total value. Crude oil imports from African suppliers rose 21% in May to $3.11 billion, according to customs filings. Agricultural commodities recorded broad volume gains across multiple ports. Shipments of Kenyan avocados, Rwandan coffee beans, South African wines and Beninese pineapples entered Chinese coastal terminals under reduced inspection timetables. The Ministry of Commerce maintained fast-track customs corridors for perishable cargo. Border inspection times for fresh African agricultural items dropped from several days to under 48 hours at major entry points. Prior to the May decree, African agricultural goods faced Chinese tariffs ranging between 5% and 25%. The removal of duties lowered wholesale prices in tier-one consumer markets like Shanghai and Guangzhou. The trade measure aligns with commitments made under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. President Xi Jinping pledged full tariff exemptions for African diplomatic partners during ministerial consultations held in mid-2025. Total bilateral trade between China and Africa reached $348 billion in 2025, an increase of 17.7% year on year. Chinese purchases of African goods accounted for $123 billion of that total. China has maintained its position as Africa’s largest bilateral trading partner for 17 consecutive years. Extractive commodities continue to form the foundation of inbound flows from the region. Extractive commodities accounted for 89% of African exports to China between 2000 and 2022, according to data compiled by Boston University’s Global Development Policy Center. Crude oil, copper cathodes, iron ore and alumina constituted the primary bulk commodities within that flow. The new tariff exemptions remove duties on intermediate refined products, encouraging higher-value processing in Africa. The zero-tariff framework represents a strategic counterweight to Western trade barriers. The United States and the European Union raised tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, lithium batteries and solar cells throughout 2024 and 2025. Securing unhindered access to raw materials shields Chinese manufacturers from potential input disruptions. Lower import costs reduce the break-even operating threshold for Chinese battery gigafactories and copper wire mills. The policy also aims to cultivate broader export demand across the Global South. Higher export earnings allow African economies to finance purchases of Chinese industrial machinery, commercial transport fleets and electrical equipment. Smelting operations in Shandong and Jiangsu reported margin improvements following the tariff removal. Refiners lowered procurement overhead by bypassing third-party trading intermediaries in London and Geneva, ministry trade records showed. African mining hubs in Zambia, Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of the Congo expanded direct shipping allocations. Cargo vessels loaded with bulk ores moved directly to discharge berths at Qingdao and Ningbo-Zhoushan. Exporters must secure valid certificates of origin to qualify for the zero-tariff preference. African commerce ministries issue the documentation to verify local value-add thresholds before vessels depart for Chinese ports. Chinese customs authorities established automated electronic verification systems to prevent third-party transshipment fraud. The digital interface cross-references export declarations issued by African port authorities before clearing arriving vessels. The tariff policy operates alongside long-term infrastructure lending. Chinese state-owned enterprises continue port rehabilitation work at Dar es Salaam, Mombasa and Walvis Bay to handle growing bulk commodity volumes. The State Council confirmed the zero-tariff schedule carries no statutory sunset provision. Ministry of Commerce and African trade delegations will meet in Beijing in November 2026 to review trade volumes and finalize local-currency payment mechanisms. ## Impact map | Event | Korea | China | Japan | Global impact | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | African zero-tariff implementation | | lower mineral import costs | | raw material realignment | ## In this story - **Companies:** China Baowu Steel Group, Zijin Mining Group - **Tickers:** 601899.SS - **Exposed:** CMOC Group - **Policy:** Tariffs, Supply Chain - **Impact:** Supply Chain, Cost Structure, Pricing ## Primary sources 1. mofcom.gov.cn 2. kiep.go.kr 3. customs.gov.cn 4. china-embassy.gov.cn 5. scmp.com --- Cite as: East Asia Brief, "China waives African import duties to lock in strategic ores," September 8, 2026. https://eastasiabrief.com/trade-policy/china-waives-african-import-duties-lock-strategic-ores-210