South Africa Signs Tariff-Free Trade Agreement with China
JOHANNESBURG — South Africa has signed a framework economic partnership agreement with China that grants all South African goods tariff-free access to the Chinese market, according to China’s Commerce Ministry.
The agreement positions South Africa as the 33rd African nation to secure such preferential trade terms with Beijing. Under the deal, China has also expressed readiness to increase investments in South Africa’s key economic sectors, including automotive manufacturing, mining, agriculture, and renewable energy.
The timing of the agreement is significant, as it comes amid heightened trade tensions with the United States, which has imposed 30 percent tariffs on South African imports.
China’s broader trade initiative extends beyond South Africa, with Beijing announcing that all 53 African countries maintaining diplomatic ties with China will now be permitted to export goods tariff-free. The move is part of China’s strategy to boost African exports and strengthen economic ties across the continent.
The framework agreement represents a major trade opportunity for South Africa, potentially opening the world’s second-largest economy to a wide range of South African products without the barrier of import duties.
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