SHENZHEN, May 1 (Xinhua) — At the stroke of midnight, 24 tons of South African apples became the first batch of imports to enter China under a historic initiative, as China extended zero-tariff treatment to all 53 African countries with which it maintains diplomatic relations. This policy has become effective from May 1.
The shipment, which was swiftly cleared by Shenzhen customs authorities in the early hours of Friday, is bound for supermarkets and wholesale markets across the country. For these South African apples, the tariff rate dropped from 10 percent to zero, strengthening their price competitiveness in the Chinese market.
Effective December 1, 2024, China implemented zero-tariff treatment for least developed countries that have established diplomatic relations with China, including 33 least developed African countries.
The new zero-tariff move is another major step forward that will bring strong momentum to China-Africa trade and investment cooperation and Africa's development.