China has officially announced the extension of full duty-free market access to Nigeria and 52 other African countries, unlocking a vast new opportunity for the continent’s exporters.
The announcement, disclosed via a diplomatic letter from Chinese President Xi Jinping to African foreign ministers, signals China’s intention to deepen its economic engagement with Africa amid a backdrop of shifting global trade alliances and intensifying rivalry with the United States.
According to a Bloomberg report on Thursday, the zero-tariff regime will offer African countries that maintain diplomatic relations with China full access to the Chinese market across 100 per cent of tariff lines, including previously restricted agricultural goods, solid minerals, textiles, and manufactured products.
This policy significantly builds on China’s earlier initiative, which extended similar privileges to only 33 least-developed African nations. With this expansion, middle-income countries like Nigeria—Africa’s largest economy—stand to gain unprecedented access to one of the world’s most lucrative consumer markets.
The announcement comes at a critical juncture, as Nigeria and over 30 other African countries face potential removal from the United States’ African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). This preferential trade agreement, which has allowed eligible African nations to export goods to the U.S. duty-free since 2000, is under review and may exclude countries based on political or economic performance.
As AGOA’s future hangs in the balance, China’s offer serves as a strategic alternative—and perhaps a lifeline—for African exporters aiming to sustain or grow their global trade volumes.
For Nigeria, this opens the door for non-oil export expansion, a long-sought goal as the country aims to diversify its economy and reduce dependency on crude oil revenues. Sectors such as agriculture (e.g., sesame, cocoa, cashew), textiles, solid minerals, and light manufacturing are expected to be key beneficiaries of the duty-free access.
Trade figures already reflect China’s growing economic presence in Africa. In the first five months of 2025, Chinese exports to Africa surged by 12.4 per cent, reaching a record 963 billion yuan (approximately $134 billion), according to data from the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
On Nigeria’s end, imports from China hit ₦4.66 trillion in Q1 2025, cementing China’s status as Nigeria’s top trading partner. While the balance of trade has long been tilted in China’s favour, experts believe this new policy could shift that balance, boosting Nigerian exports significantly if supported by enabling infrastructure and regulatory alignment.
China’s move is also part of a broader geopolitical strategy. As Beijing continues to navigate trade disputes with Washington, including a protracted tariff war dating back to the Trump administration, it is increasingly turning to Africa as a buffer against Western market volatility.
At a recent summit in London, senior U.S. and Chinese officials discussed frameworks to reduce trade tensions. However, China’s policy to court African partners underscores its intent to build alternative trade alliances beyond the U.S. and Europe.
“China’s full duty-free access offer isn’t just about economics—it’s about influence, soft power, and securing long-term partnerships in regions where Western presence is waning,” said Dr. Tunde Osoba, a Lagos-based international trade analyst.
While the announcement has been widely welcomed, stakeholders have also urged caution, noting that policy implementation and Nigeria’s internal capacity to meet Chinese quality standards will be critical.
“Nigerian exporters must scale up production, meet international sanitary and phytosanitary standards, and resolve logistical bottlenecks at ports,” said Mrs. Chinwe Okeke, an executive at the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC). “This is an opportunity we can’t afford to squander.”
Furthermore, industry experts say Nigeria must negotiate product-specific frameworks, particularly for high-value goods like lithium, processed food, and textile garments, to maximize benefits under the new trade terms.
This policy shift reaffirms China’s growing role as a key trade and development partner on the African continent. From infrastructure investments through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to development aid and now expanded trade access, Beijing’s engagement model contrasts with traditional Western aid-driven approaches.
For Nigeria and other African nations, the move offers a chance to rethink their industrial strategy, invest in value-added production, and tap into China’s massive middle-class consumer base.