The Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Tau, has welcomed the announcement by the Government of the People’s Republic of China that introduces a temporary zero-tariff preference scheme for 20 non-least developed African countries, including South Africa. The measure follows an announcement by Chinese President Xi Jinping on 14 February 2026 that China would…
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with CBS News chief Washington correspondent Major Garrett about the situation in Iran. Ahead of President Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Netanyahu said he “didn’t like” that China supported Iran’s war efforts.
Without a collective approach from African states, China’s tariff-free market access will not be the silver bullet many expect. China’s decision to extend tariff-free access from 1 May to all African countries, barring Eswatini (with which it maintains no diplomatic ties), has been widely welcomed across the continent. At a moment when global trade is…
On May 1, 2026, China opened its market to 53 African countries through a zero-tariff policy, a bold step that could redefine Africa’s economic future. The move signals a clear and strategic departure from the prevailing approach taken by many Western powers toward the continent. At its core, the policy eliminates trade barriers for a…
Nairobi — China’s zero-tariff treatment to all African countries that have diplomatic relations with it will come into effect starting May 1, 2026 to April 30, 2028. This came after China had granted zero-tariff treatment on 100 percent of tariff lines since December 1, 2024 for 33 least developed African countries with which it maintains…
“There is no better mirror than a true friend,” says a popular African proverb This maxim is quite apt while assessing the long-existing China-Africa cooperation. This is because the partnership, which began more than seven decades ago, has been based on mutual respect and understanding. At the moment, China is having diplomatic relations with 53…
The Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, has assured that the zero-tariff policy for African products into the Chinese markets announced by President Xi Jinping in February will become effective from May 1, 2026. The envoy said this while delivering his address during the official handing over ceremony of the…
Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming the backbone of modern economies, shaping everything from finance and healthcare to governance and security. As global competition intensifies, two dominant models have emerged — the United States’ capital-driven approach and China’s state-guided, infrastructure-led strategy. For Africa, this moment presents not just a choice between competing systems, but an opportunity…
Under the auspices of H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, the AU Permanent Mission to China, led by H.E. Amb. Alhaji Sarjoh Bah, AU Permanent Representative to the People’s Republic of China, is convening the Annual Retreat of the Group of African Ambassadors in China on the theme “Leveraging China’s…
The global geoeconomic volatility wrought by the second Donald Trump US presidency and hostilities in the Middle East make the shift in China’s Africa strategy even more important for China and for Africa. China’s Africa strategy started to shift in 2019, towards investment. It is anchored in Hunan Province. The “Hunan Model” emerged because the…
