China's zero-tariff measures covering all taxable products for 53 African countries are creating an unprecedented opportunity for the continent, Gambia's Trade Minister Baboucarr Ousmaila Joof said in an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN).
As Africa's largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years by the end of 2024, China announced on Wednesday that it will expand zero-tariff treatment to all 53 African countries with which it maintains diplomatic ties.
This new policy has boosted the ambition of Gambian exporters, who now seek to sell not only raw materials but also value-added products to the vast Chinese, according to Joof.
"It positively affects our exports, because that is giving us access to arguably the second largest consumer market globally. That gives Gambians an opportunity that we never had before, to be able to sell whatever we produce, whether this is in terms of raw materials or it also has to do with value added products that we can export to the Chinese market," Joof said.
Regarding the sweeping new tariffs imposed by the United States on African exports, Joof noted protectionism has created severe difficulties for African countries and other developing nations, and what is needed is for the international community to uphold true multilateralism and jointly oppose all forms of unilateralism and protectionism.
"The small nations, the least developed countries (LDCs) like ours, we expect the world to be thinking inclusively. No country can walk alone and get what they want. We should be thinking and talking about coming together in blocs, in trade blocs. All this protectionism, all these things about tariffs, all these retrogressive policies and measures that we think will not live long," he said.
Joof spoke to CGTN on the sidelines of the fourth China-Africa Economic, Trade Expo (CAETE), which runs from June 12 to 15 in central China's Hunan Province. He said the expo provides African countries with a platform to engage in global trade.
"China is not only providing resources to the African continent. They are sharing, they are transferring skills. Countries like us have a huge infrastructure deficit, particularly trade infrastructure. And the role China-Africa cooperation is playing is to ensure that deficit is reduced massively to allow the non-players, the LDCs particularly, to have a platform to participate in global trade," Joof said.
He also invited Chinese manufacturers, particularly light manufacturing companies, to develop businesses in Gambia, saying he hopes the strengthened economic ties will lead to closer bonds between African and Chinese people.
"The reverse is true that African producers and value processors, those who are adding value to what they produce would also have the opportunity to be able to flash those things over to the Chinese consumer market, which is massive. And we hope with our friendship and all these agreements we are signing will make it possible for the two peoples to come together," Joof said.
China's zero-tariff treatment brings Africa unprecedented opportunities: Gambian trade minister
