China to scrap tariffs for most of Africa from May: President Xi

FILE photo. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Y reads a letter from President Xi Jinping to a FOCAC meeting in Changsha. Representatives of China, 53 African countries and the African Union Commission attended the meeting in June 2025. - Photo: Xinhua file

BEIJING: Beijing's scrapping of tariffs for all but one African country will start May 1, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Saturday (Feb 14), according to state media.

China already has a zero-tariff policy for imports from 33 African countries, but Beijing said last year it would extend the policy to all 53 of its diplomatic partners on the continent.