ABUJA (CONVERSEER) – China has announced a major trade policy that will grant Nigeria and 52 other African nations zero-tariff access to its massive consumer market, opening new doors for exports and economic growth.
In a message delivered to African foreign ministers, Chinese President Xi Jinping confirmed that all tariff lines would be eliminated for African countries with formal diplomatic ties to Beijing. This move forms part of China’s broader effort to deepen economic ties with Africa amid intensifying trade tensions with the United States.
According to Bloomberg and reports from Punch Newspaper, Chinese exports to Africa surged by 12.4% in the first five months of 2025, reaching a record 963 billion yuan (approximately $134 billion), underlining the growing trade partnership.
For Nigeria, this policy could be transformative. With virtually all goods – ranging from agricultural produce and textiles to manufactured items and solid minerals—qualifying for duty-free export, the opportunity to expand non-oil revenue streams is significant.
The development comes as Nigeria and over 30 other African nations face possible exclusion from the U.S.-based African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), making China’s offer a timely and potentially game-changing alternative.
