At midnight on May 1, 24 tons of South African apples cleared customs in Shenzhen — the very first shipment under China's expanded zero-tariff policy for all 53 African diplomatic partners. Days later, Kenyan avocados, coffee, and green beans followed. Effective May 1, 2026, the policy grants 100% tariff-free access to 20 more African nations, building on the coverage for 33 least-developed countries since December 2024. China's Commerce Ministry calls it a concrete step for high-level opening-up and a milestone in the China-Africa Economic Partnership.
Picture by Wang Ziyuan, Li Yuanyuan, Wang Hexiang(intern)/China Youth Daily
