Qingdao Port in east China's Shandong Province welcomed its first shipment from Africa under China's new zero-tariff policy on Friday, joining other major Chinese hubs in processing duty-free African products.
Dozens of African products on the inaugural vessel, including fluorspar powder from South Africa and frozen strawberries from Egypt, are the very first shipments benefiting directly from the new zero-tariff treatment upon entering the Chinese market.
According to an importer, the zero-tariff policy has delivered immediate and tangible benefits.
"After the zero-tariff policy took effect, the tariff rate on our imported South African fluorspar powder can be reduced from three percent to zero with the preferential certificate of origin. It is estimated that we can enjoy an import tax reduction of nearly 700,000 yuan (about 102,517 U.S. dollars) throughout the year," said Miao Longke, general manager of an African products importer.
Currently, Qingdao Port operates 11 container shipping routes to Africa, providing strong coverage across East Africa, West Africa and North Africa markets.
At Bole International Airport in Ethiopia, cargo operations have been bustling over the past week as companies from multiple African countries, particularly the 20 newly added beneficiary nations, rushed to ship goods in advance.
Cargo volume surged 65 percent year on year, with signature products such as coffee and fresh-cut flowers nearly doubling in volume.
"The products from the continent that will be exported to the Chinese market, of course they will create jobs in the continent. It's a win-win situation and of course this will be very much beneficial to the rest of the continent," said Tsotetsi Makong, director of coordination and programmes at the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat.
China's expanded zero-tariff policy for African countries took effect early Friday, with the first shipment of imports covered by the latest preferential treatment completing customs clearance in Shenzhen City of south China's Guangdong Province.
The new zero-tariff policy was expanded to all 53 African countries that had established diplomatic ties with the country, extending benefits beyond the 33 least developed countries already covered since December 2024. The new policy applies preferential rates to the remaining 20 African nations for two years, during which China will promote the signing of the China-Africa Economic Partnership for Shared Development agreement to make zero tariffs a long-term arrangement.
African imports land in Qingdao under new zero-tariff trade rules
