According to the news on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website on June 17, relevant officials from the Ministry of Commerce interpreted China's willingness to implement the measure of zero tariff on 100% of tariff items for 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic relations through the signing of a Common Development Economic Partnership Agreement.
Screenshot from the Ministry of Commerce website
On June 11, 2025, in his congratulatory letter to the Coordination Meeting of Ministers for the Implementation of the Results of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, President Xi Jinping expressed that China is willing to sign a Common Development Economic Partnership Agreement to implement the measure of zero tariff on 100% of tariff items for 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic relations, and at the same time provide more convenience for exports from the least developed countries in Africa to China. Relevant officials from the Ministry of Commerce introduced the situation.
The Common Development Economic Partnership Agreement is an innovative free trade agreement between China and African countries. The implementation of zero tariff on 100% of tariff items for 53 African countries with which China has diplomatic relations under this agreement is a concrete action to expand independent opening-up and implement the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee. It is also a vivid demonstration of further implementing the results of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and serving to build a new era all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future. In the face of frequent outbreaks of unilateralism and protectionism, China and Africa are determined to jointly meet challenges and inject stability and positive energy into global trade development. This major initiative follows the direction of economic globalization, responds to the expectations of African countries, and complies with WTO rules.
In the next step, the Ministry of Commerce will work with relevant departments to promote the signing of the Common Development Economic Partnership Agreement with African countries on the principle of equal consultation and mutual benefit. China will fully consider the actual situation and specific needs of African countries and engage in consultations on modules such as more convenient trade, more inclusive growth, more resilient supply chains, and more modern development fields in a flexible and pragmatic manner. An agreement consistent with WTO rules and meeting the interests and demands of both sides will be reached as soon as possible, ultimately achieving zero tariff on 100% of tariff items, providing more opportunities for African countries through China's super-large market and the achievements of China's modernization. The Common Development Economic Partnership Agreement will provide institutional safeguards for further deepening economic and trade cooperation between China and Africa, demonstrating a new benchmark for cooperation among the Global South, and promoting the globalization of the economy toward a more inclusive direction.
In addition, China has granted zero tariff treatment on 100% of tariff items to all least developed countries with which it has diplomatic relations, including 33 African countries, since December 1, 2024. China is willing to provide more export facilitation on this basis and support the least developed countries in Africa in making full use of the "zero tariff" treatment.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7517127595960353321/
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