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In a storm of global commercial satisfied, Beijing proceeds to his pawn. China announces the overall abolition of duties on the export of 53 African countries and extends the preferential approach to its market. Behind the gesture, targeted diplomatic offensive, while Washington under the auspices of Donald Trump reactivates the protectionist levers against the continent. Africa, a long peripheral in geo -economic arbitrations, becomes an epicenter of the confrontation of influences in which industrial ambitions, strategic alliances and stories of sovereignty intersect.
In short
- China announces the abolition of all customs duties for exports from 53 African countries.
- This decision extends the previous agreement, originally reserved for the least advanced African countries.
- The system is now included in the main economy, such as Nigeria and South Africa.
- The announcement comes in the context of trade tensions, the United States threatened to store heavy customs duties in several African countries.
Beijing lifts barriers: Historical change in relationships with Sino-Afrik
After the global shock caused by Trump’s customs tariffs, China formalized after the ministerial session of the coordination of the forum on Sino-African cooperation (FocTAC) intention to suppress all duties on imports from 53 African countries with which it maintains diplomatic relations.
This decision is a remarkable extension of the previous agreement concluded in 2024, which only concerned African countries classified as “Least advanced”. The new measure will now include the main business partners of the continent, such as Nigeria and South Africa, so far of these customs benefits.
In a joint statement, ministers condemned the policy of certain states aimed at “Disruption of global economic and commercial order” over “Single Taxation of Customs Obligations”. Although Beijing did not state the date of entry into force of this decision, his notification is already significant on the geo -economic scene.
This announcement shows several key elements and illustrates its size and immediate consequences for the African continent:
- Africa exports to China for approximately $ 170 billion a year, especially raw materials such as copper, cobalt or bauxite;
- This decision will now include temporary savings that are not subject to an agreement of 2024, such as Nigeria, South Africa or Ghana;
- Eswatini remains excluded because of his diplomatic recognition as in the Tai -Wan, which China considers to be a Art Nouveau province;
- This announcement comes when the United States under Donald Trump threatens to drastically increase the customs obligations for African exports: 50 % for Lesotho, 30 % for South Africa, 14 % for Nigeria;
- The United States temporarily suspended the application of these increases in tariffs, but the climate of uncertainty remains tangible to African exporters.
In this context, China presents itself as an alternative partner that offers access to the market without barriers and more and more and more central roles in commercial architecture of the global south.
Masked strategy of economic influence?
In addition to the tariff itself, chronology and geopolitical context, they emphasize the desire of China, an important member of the BRIC alliance, to re -configure the balance of international economic relations, especially against the United States.
China and its African partners call on the United States to solve their commercial disputes in spirit “Respect and Mutual Benefits”. In parallel, this opening of the tariff allows China to strengthen its economic ties with countries that produce critical sources such as DC or Guinea, while sending a clear signal of the rest of the world.
In this context, this initiative could support the increased use of Yuan in the Sino-African bilateral regulations, especially in digital form. The development of digital Juan, which has already experienced in several pilot regions in China, could find a favorable ground on the African continent, where conventional financial infrastructure is often missing, but where the acceptance of mobile money is strong.
Some economists challenge the future emergence of stablecoins supported by African sources, still marginal object, but carefully monitored in crypto and finch.
In addition to the immediate advantages for the African economy, this Chinese strategy could rework global stock exchange districts in favor of a more integrated commercial block between China and its African partners at the expense of the West, despite the suspension of customs tariffs for 90 days. If this dynamics opens new perspectives for the continent, it challenges possible long -term dependence, commercial and technological. For Africa, it will now be a challenge to use this opening without giving up the risks of structural asymmetry.
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I graduated from Toulouse and Blockchain Consultant Certification Certification Certification Certification I attached to the adventure of Cointtribuna in 2019. I was convinced of the potential of blockchain to transform many sectors of the economy, and I committed to raising awareness and inform the general public about how the ecosystem took place. My goal is to allow everyone to better understand blockchain and take the opportunity they offer. I try to provide an objective analysis of messages every day, decrypt trends on the market, hand over the latest technological innovations and introduce the economic and social issues of this revolution.
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