UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday hailed the substantial conclusion of Version 3.0 ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (FTA) upgrade negotiations, saying that it will promote global free trade and economic growth.
China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) announced on Thursday at the sidelines of the 27th ASEAN – China Summit in Vientiane, Lao the substantial conclusion of ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) 3.0 Upgrade Negotiations.
The construction of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area was completed in 2010, and Version 3.0 FTA negotiations began in November 2022.
The upgraded FTA covers nine areas, including both existing areas of the China-ASEAN free trade agreement and emerging areas with huge potential for cooperation between the two sides, much to the delight of Southeast Asian businesses.
In response to a media query, the UN chief said at a press conference that the United Nations welcomes the agreement that promotes global free trade.
"We are totally committed to first of all, guarantee that we have only one global economy with one only set of rules, one global internet, and that fragmentation must be avoided at all costs. So what brings people together within this global economy, all the agreements that are made in order to increase free trade, in order to create conditions for economic growth to be boosted. All these (China-ASEAN) agreements are from all these perspectives, all is welcome," Guterres said.
UN chief hails substantial conclusion of Version 3.0 China-ASEAN FTA upgrade negotiations
UN chief hails substantial conclusion of Version 3.0 China-ASEAN FTA upgrade negotiations
UN chief hails substantial conclusion of Version 3.0 China-ASEAN FTA upgrade negotiations
South Africa's sugarcane sector, a cornerstone of the country's agriculture, stands ready to further integrate into the vast Chinese market as the zero-tariff policy for African countries officially takes effect.
China's Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council announced Tuesday that from May 1, 2026 to April 30, 2028, the country will grant zero-tariff treatment to 20 African countries that have established diplomatic ties with China and are not classified as the least developed countries.
This follows the country's earlier decision to grant zero-tariff treatment on 100 percent of tariff lines, effective from Dec 1, 2024, for the 33 least developed African countries with which it maintains diplomatic relations.
In effect, the zero-tariff treatment has been expanded to cover all 53 African countries that maintain ties with China.
In KwaZulu-Natal province, one of South Africa's traditional agricultural powerhouses, local farmers are hopeful that their sugarcane products will soon reach Chinese consumers.
Pratish Sharma, a sugarcane grower in the province, has witnessed the industry endure an unprecedented winter of challenges, including volatile international prices and trade barriers. When he heard of China's zero-tariff policy, however, his hope returned.
"It'll make trading in China a lot easier. It will create a better revenue stream for exports of sugar to China. And agreements like these assist in rejuvenating our economy within the industry and making us more viable," the farmer said.
Official data shows that China has been South Africa's largest trading partner for 17 consecutive years, with bilateral trade exceeding 53.5 billion U.S. dollars.
Yet, the country's agricultural products currently account for only 0.4 percent of China's total agricultural imports, indicating huge growth potential.
Kulani Siweya, market and trade policy director at the South African Sugar Association, sees greater opportunity ahead for the country's roughly 25,000 registered sugarcane growers.
"Main regions or destinations are the U.S., Europe. [We are] exporting about between 35,000 to 70,000 tonnes to the China market. South Africa stands ready to give you quality sweet sugar that will satisfy the Chinese palate," said Siweya.
Beyond sugar, South African specialties such as citrus, macadamia nuts, wine, and other high-quality agricultural products are also expected to gain broader market access in China. This has encouraged farmers like Sharma to experiment with a wider range of crops.
"I've converted 18 hectares of sugar cane into macadamias. So that process of diversification has already begun. And with trade initiatives such as the zero-rated making all of us more sustainable and viable," Sharma said.
John Steenhuisen, South African Minister of Agriculture, said China's zero-tariff initiative will help reshape the agricultural sector.
"The tariff-free access that's been granted us is going to be a game changer for not only citrus but also for the entire agricultural sector. We're now going to be able to compete with excellent quality wines and other agricultural goods in that market in a far more competitive basis," said the minister.
South African sugarcane growers eye sweeter exports as China's zero-tariff policy for Africa takes effect
