Trade Without Barriers

Braving the sweltering afternoon heat in Zambia's North-Western Province, Teddy Makina harvests organic honey in the lush forests of Kalumbila District, but remains acutely aware of the difficulties of accessing the lucrative global market.

"We're being exploited here by some ‘briefcase’ honey companies who source our local product at below-market prices for export to China," Makina, a local beekeeper, told ChinAfrica.

Recent data indicate that high-quality Zambian honey exported to China or the United Arab Emirates can fetch between $6 and $10 per kg, depending on the trade agreement and organic certification. While costs vary significantly based on floral origin, purity, and specific market conditions, the general wholesale price for bulk honey currently ranges between $2.78 and $3.15 per kg, according to the 2026 Global Honey Market Report.

"What is currently happening in this sector is not fair because the 'middlemen' come here and offer us a very low price of about $4 for a 2.5-litre container of honey, and we have no choice but to sell at this price because we need income for our families," he noted.

For this reason, the announcement of the zero-tariff policy by Chinese President Xi Jinping in a congratulatory letter to the 39th African Union Summit, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in February, has set a transformative tone for 2026. By removing tariffs on 100 percent of tariff lines for 53 African countries, effective 1 May this year, China is shifting from traditional aid towards a more trade-driven development model.

'Life insurance policy'

"With this tariff relief, Africa is better positioned to participate more fully in the global market, increase export volumes, diversify its export basket, and drive domestic value addition," said Kelvin Chisanga, a social economist based in Lusaka.

Chisanga described the zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent of tariff lines for 53 African countries that have diplomatic ties with China as a "gateway" for African production.

In the bustling Port of Dar es Salaam, the upbeat mood among local avocado traders reflects a fundamental shift in the Tanzanian economy. For years, the port was seen as a bottleneck for perishable goods; today, it is being reimagined as the launchpad for a "green gold" revolution.

"In the past, we were price-takers. If the local market in Dar es Salaam was flooded, our avocados rotted. But with the zero-tariff certificate in hand, we are now price-makers. We are shipping to a market of 1.4 billion people where the Hass variety is a premium luxury," Raheem Ndagire told ChinAfrica. Ndagire described the tariff relief as not just a trade deal, but a "life insurance policy" for his horticulture-dependent agribusiness.

Tanzania has already achieved a major breakthrough in accessing the Chinese avocado market following successful phytosanitary negotiations, with the first shipments of fresh, locally grown avocados arriving in China in late 2024, according to FurtherAfrica, an online platform centralising news and content focusing on the development and growth history of the African continent.

Industry observers say the zero-tariff policy will facilitate increased exports of agricultural and other goods, boost economic growth, and promote the integration of African countries into global value chains. Such measures align with broader efforts to improve market access and support the development of climate-smart and sustainable agriculture by opening new international markets for local producers.

"We are moving away from being a fragmented sector to becoming a coordinated, standards-driven global force. The 1.4 billion consumers in China are no longer a dream; they are our primary target," Tanzania Horticultural Association CEO Jacqueline Mkindi said.

China's zero-tariff policy for least developed countries with diplomatic ties to China, which became effective in December 2024, is already showing results, with trade rising 15.2 percent year on year to $21.42 billion, according to an official from China's Ministry of Commerce.

Arguably, with a sense of collective continental pride spanning 53 nations and one shared open door, the "Made in Africa" brand is no longer a collection of niche products. It is a large and diverse engine finally shifting into high gear.

Special opportunity

In the high-altitude hills of Rwanda, the vibrant red of Bird's Eye chilli has long symbolised untapped potential. For years, local farmers faced a situation often described as "calculated gambles," where the price of a crate could be eroded by middlemen fees and a 5 to 15 percent import duty before even reaching a shelf in Shanghai.

However, as of early 2026, that narrative has shifted from a gamble to a strategic opportunity.

"With zero-tariff policy, my dried chillies can land in a warehouse in Changsha without the heavy tax burden. I've already contacted a cooperative to invest in an irrigation system because now, for the first time, the Chinese market isn't just for the elite - it's also for us small-scale farmers," said Gachau Kabayiza.

For Kabayiza, as the day ends, his crates are loaded, the manifests are signed, and the consignment is ready to begin its journey across the Indian Ocean.

Trade analysts say the zero-tariff policy is more than a tax break; it represents Africa's opportunity to transition from a source of raw materials to a global hub of value-added production.

The Ugandan government and private sector have since launched a coordinated strategy to capitalise on China's zero-tariff policy. "The zero-tariff policy for African products to China is a special opportunity for us to increase our exports to China," Uganda's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Henry Okello Oryem said.

Oryem noted that this special opportunity tells Ugandan entrepreneurs that the "barrier to entry" (tariffs) has been removed, but the "barrier of quality" (phytosanitary standards) remains.

Signalling a notable shift in the United Nations' stance on global trade equity, UN Secretary General António Guterres recently urged that, using China's unilateral zero-tariff policy as a benchmark, the G7 and other major economies should consider similar measures.

"Africa needs free trade for its goods, and Africa cannot be penalised by trade policies that are restrictive and by tariffs that do not allow African products to be competitive. I would appeal to all developed countries to take exactly the same measures," Guterres said during the 39th AU Summit in Addis Ababa.