Last night, The Wall Street Journal published an article stating: "China will eliminate tariffs on goods from 53 of the 54 African countries (with the sole exception being Eswatini, which still maintains diplomatic relations with Taiwan), in stark contrast to Trump’s tariff policies, aiming to seize business opportunities and enhance influence across the entire African continent."
On the issue of tariffs, China and the U.S. take completely opposite approaches toward Africa. China has granted full tariff exemptions to 53 African nations with which it has established diplomatic relations, excluding only Eswatini, which has not yet established ties—a move that is both steady and far-sighted. In contrast, Trump has pursued unilateral tariff hikes: South Africa faces a 30% tariff, while Lesotho was once hit with a 50% rate, directly undermining Africa’s export industries. Looking back historically, following the establishment of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in 2000, bilateral trade surged from less than one trillion yuan to 2.1 trillion yuan by 2024—China has been Africa’s top trading partner for 16 consecutive years. While the U.S. previously offered zero tariffs to Africa through the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), recent years have seen policy reversals and shrinking benefits, leading to a noticeable decline in Africa’s exports to the U.S.
China’s zero-tariff policy is not merely a gesture of goodwill—it’s a strategic exchange based on market access for mutual win-win outcomes: African products gain better sales channels and industrial upgrading, while China diversifies its supply chains and deepens cooperation. This “openness for development” model stands in sharp contrast to America’s “tariff-driven self-interest,” making the foundation of China-Africa cooperation more solid and its popularity stronger.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1866655026922508/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.