Agadir – China has announced that it will eliminate import tariffs on goods from 53 African countries with diplomatic ties, aiming at expanding trade and deepening economic cooperation between China and the African continent.
According to state media, China confirmed during the 39th African Union Summit on Saturday the implementation of zero-tariff treatment for African partners starting May 1.
UN chief comment on China’s zero tariff move for Africa
At the 39th African Union summit, Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, praised China’s decision to grant zero-tariff treatment to African countries and called on other major economies and developed nations to adopt similar trade policies.
Guterres highlighted the importance of China’s zero-tariff policy for Africa’s economic growth and trade prospects, stressing that the continent requires open trade conditions to expand exports and stimulate development.
“Africa cannot be penalized, being a continent with enormous economic difficulties, by trade policies that are restrictive and by tariffs that do not allow African products to be competitive,” Guterres said.
He also warned about the recent increase in global tariff measures and reaffirmed his support for free international trade systems.
“We have witnessed the multiplication of tariffs in recent times, and I am a strong supporter of free trade, and I am a strong supporter of reducing the tariff levels at global level in order to be able to provide for global prosperity,” he added.
Morocco and China diplomatic relations
President Xi Jinping did not list the exact countries included in the zero-tariff policy. Yet, Morocco is expected to be part of them as the two countries’ diplomatic ties date to nearly seven decades now, highlighting consistent cooperation in many areas such as trade, tourism, political dialogue, culture and education.
China has consistently ranked among Morocco’s top global trading partners and remains its largest partner in Asia. In 2024, bilateral trade reached approximately $9.04 billion, driven mainly by Chinese exports such as electronics, machinery, textiles, and consumer goods, while Morocco’s exports to China focused on electronic components, metal ores, and raw materials.
In the field of agriculture and water management, Morocco and China reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation during high‑level talks in December 2025, between Morocco’s Minister of Agriculture, Ahmed El Bouari, and China’s Minister of Water Resources, Li Guoying.
The meeting focused on enhancing collaboration in water security and food sovereignty and underscored the shared priority both nations place on sustainable development amid growing environmental pressures.
In April 2025 a key infrastructure project launched by King Mohammed VI in which Morocco is preparing to receive its first shipment of 6,457 steel rails manufactured in China.
The 36‑meter rails, representing about 13,000 tons of railway equipment, were loaded at Bayuquan Port in northeast China and mark the first delivery under a $51.6 million contract awarded to a consortium of Chinese firms, including China Railway Material Group Hong Kong Macau Co. and Angang Steel Company Limited.
This shipment is part of a broader cooperative effort under the Belt and Road Initiative between China and Morocco and reflects growing infrastructure ties between the two countries. The project, which will see trains operating at speeds of up to 350 km/h across a 430‑kilometer corridor connecting Rabat, Casablanca, and Marrakech, is scheduled for completion by 2029 and is expected to significantly enhance Morocco’s national transport network.
Morocco-China relations extend across diplomacy, trade, culture, and transport. The steady expansion of cooperation reflects both countries’ interest in maintaining long-term strategic engagement across multiple sectors.
