China has extended full duty-free access to its markets for Nigeria and 52 other African countries, a bold trade reform that could significantly boost Nigerian exports.
The new zero-tariff initiative, confirmed in a letter from President Xi Jinping to African foreign ministers, eliminates all import duties on African goods for nations maintaining diplomatic ties with Beijing.
This policy builds on a previous version that applied only to 33 least-developed countries and comes at a moment of deepening US-China trade tensions. With African nations at risk of exclusion from the US African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), China’s offer may realign global trade priorities on the continent.
For Nigeria, which imported ₦4.66 trillion worth of Chinese goods in Q1 2025, the new deal could be a game-changer, particularly for agriculture, textiles, solid minerals, and manufactured goods. Chinese exports to Africa have already risen 12.4% this year, hitting 963 billion yuan ($134 billion).
CHINA GRANTS DUTY-FREE ACCESS TO NIGERIA
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