Dr. Kaze Armel, Lecturer at Xiangtan University, China-Africa Research Institute, School of Law
Linxiao Lyu, PhD Candidate, University of Dar-es-Salaam, School of Law
The implementation of the zero-tariff policy marks a new phase in China-Africa economic and trade relations, characterized by deep market integration. For Hunan province, this represents both a strategic opportunity to transform the advantages of being a “pioneer zone” into developmental momentum and a comprehensive test of its industrial resilience and strategic planning capabilities. Driven by the dual engines of “mining industry full-chain cooperation” and “high-end manufacturing + aftermarket exports”, with technological and model innovation as its wings, Hunan province aims to write a new chapter in its opening-up and high-quality development within the broader context of serving the construction of a China-Africa community with a shared future.
- Policy Background: The Milestone Significance of China’s zero-tariff policy.
Starting from May 1st, 2026, China will fully implement zero-tariffs on 100% taxable products for 53 African countries that have diplomatic relations with China. This is the solemn implementation of China’s commitment to the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2024, which demonstrates China’s determination as the first major economy to fully open its market to the continent. By 2025, China-Africa trade volume reached US 348 billion dollars, and China has maintained its position as Africa’s largest trading partner for 16consecutive years. This unilateral opening-up measure goes beyond the traditional scope of economic and trade mutual benefit, and is a vivid practice of the policy concept of “genuine, friendly and sincere” towards Africa and the correct view of righteousness and benefit in the new era. It sets a new paradigm for reconstructing a more just and reasonable South-South economic and trade relationship.
- Africa’s response: Strategic Transformation from “Resource Export” to “Industrial Awakening”.
African countries have responded enthusiastically to the zero tariff policy, viewing it as a historic opportunity to break the “resource curse” and promote industrial transformation. The Vice President of Kenya stated at the launch ceremony of the first beneficiary train in Kindiki that zero-tariff will “directly increase the income of farmers and exporters”. Li Jinyangzhu, the Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry of the country, pointed out on social media that this move “opens the door for Kenya to the world’s largest consumer market”.
At a deeper level, Africa’s expectations go far beyond expanding its export scale, but also lie in the ascent of its value chain. African media such as Business Daily have keenly pointed out that zero tariffs will lower the landed prices of African goods, freeing up space for the development of local processing and the creation of higher added value. The President of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce used flowers as an example to illustrate that the value of processed flowers can increase by three to four times. This marks a cognitive shift: Africa is shifting from passively adapting to global supply chains to actively utilizing opportunities in the Chinese market to shape its own industrial structure.
The Africa Trade Barometer released by Standard Bank of South Africa shows that nearly 36% of African companies list China as their top trading partner. Behind this is Africa’s desire for stable, reliable, and inclusive markets. However, amidst the joy, there is also a clear understanding. Zhuo Wu, President of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Kenya, reminded that entering the Chinese market means having to comply with a strict standard system. From quarantine to packaging, any negligence in any link may cause small farmers to miss out on opportunities. Zero tariffs are a “ticket” rather than a “guarantee”, and the level of industrial capacity and standard alignment of African countries will determine how much dividends they can share from this opportunity.
- Multidimensional Review: The Strategic Implications of zero-tariff and Hunan’s Province Unique Position.
The zero tariff policy is not simply a tariff reduction, its strategic implications need to be grasped from three dimensions: economy, politics, and Hunan itself.
Economically, this is a profound transformation from “trade balance” to “value chain reconstruction”. In 2025, China’s exports to Africa will be 22.531 billion US dollars, and imports from Africa will be 123.021 billion US dollars. The zero tariff policy is a sincere move by China to actively expand non self importing and optimize its trade structure. For Hunan, this directly means cost dividends and development space. By 2025, Hunan’s imports of dried chili peppers, coffee and other agricultural products from Africa have grown several times, and zero tariffs will further enhance its price competitiveness. At the same time, Hunan’s exports of construction machinery, “New Three Samples” and other products to Africa will also gain greater space due to the potential increase in purchasing power in the African market. The deeper opportunity lies in the integration of the industrial chain. Hunan enterprises can use this window to upgrade their cooperation model from “procurement sales” to “African planting/mining+Hunan deep processing/manufacturing+global sales”, and climb up the global value chain.
Politically, this marks a new stage of South South cooperation led by “market opening”. Against the backdrop of rising global protectionism and deepening geopolitical rifts, China’s move sends a firm signal of openness to the global South. Some Western public opinion misinterprets this as “economic infiltration”, which precisely proves its narrow logic of “false aid, real acquisition”. The true judgment lies in the hands of Africa. For Hunan, this means that it is necessary to innovate the paradigm of cooperation, shifting from “teaching people how to fish” to “teaching people how to fish”. The “Pre evaluation System for African Food Products Exported to China” pioneered by Hunan is aimed at lowering the entry threshold for African products into China through institutional openness. Its core is equality and empowerment, which constitutes the political cornerstone of South South cooperation in the new era.
Strategically, Hunan has established a leading advantage, but challenges still exist. As a pilot zone for deep economic and trade cooperation between China and Africa, Hunan has been ranked first in trade with Africa for seven consecutive years in the central and western regions, with an import and export volume of 58 billion yuan by 2025. The deep cultivation of enterprises such as the China Africa Economic and Trade Expo, the Hunan Guangdong Africa Railway Sea Inter-modal Transport Channel, and Sany Heavy Industry has jointly built a solid foundation of “platform+channel+industry”. However, the shortcomings are also obvious: the number of operating entities is “few and weak”, and there are only more than 2000 actual enterprises in the province; The regional development is severely imbalanced, with Changsha accounting for over 52% of the total, while cities such as Xiangtan and Zhuzhou cities have experienced significant declines due to a single entity and external shocks. For example, the recent policy change in Algeria leading to Geely Automobile’s halving of exports to non African countries is a warning of the complexity and variability of external risks in Hunan. In the era of zero tariffs, Hunan must transform its first mover advantage into a systematic victory, while building a strong barrier for risk prevention and control.
- Hunan Strategy: Focus on Distinctive Advantages and forge a dual engine of “Mining + Manufacturing”.
Faced with the historic window of zero tariffs, Hunan needs to leverage its strengths and avoid weaknesses, focus on the most advantageous mining cooperation and mechanical equipment output, and build a new pattern of a virtuous cycle of “resources technology market”.
Firstly, promote the upgrading of mining cooperation from a “trade oriented” to a “full industry chain oriented” model. Zero tariff coverage of all mineral categories provides an excellent opportunity for Hunan to integrate African resources. Related companies have already taken action: Hunan Manganese Union, Wantai, Qixu Mining, Jin’anghai Investment and other projects have been intensively implemented, focusing on the import of manganese, chromium and other minerals and the operation of the entire industry chain. It is expected to bring more than 10 billion yuan in trade increment. But Hunan’s ambition should not be limited to trade. The practice of the Provincial Geological Institute in Africa has pointed out a higher-level path: its participation in the National Highway 1 Survey Project in Congo (Brazzaville) has been included in the World Bank case study; The first Chinese geological testing laboratory established in Madagascar is challenging the long-standing monopoly of Western institutions in the field of mineral product testing; Its “Millions” talent program is committed to cultivating localized technological capabilities for Africa. The “Strategic Metal Oxide Ore Efficient Flotation Separation” and other technologies developed by Hunan Nonferrous Metals Research Institute have been successfully applied to the copper cobalt mine project in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with an internationally leading recovery rate. This indicates that Hunan should take technology and service output as the guide, promote cooperation from simple raw material buying and selling to full industry chain cooperation covering exploration, mining, trade, and even standard setting, and seize the high-end of the value chain.
Secondly, create a green new business card for the “re-manufacturing” export of construction machinery. Compared to new machines, second-hand machinery and re-manufacturing equipment that offer higher cost-effectiveness and better meet the current needs of most African countries are Hunan’s unique trump card. The engineering machinery re-manufacturing base in Changsha area of China (Hunan) Free Trade Zone has exported its products to many African countries. As the largest second-hand mobile phone trading center in central China, Xiangtan Central International Machinery Park accounts for over 65% of the province’s share in the transaction volume of re-manufactured equipment. Its products are distributed in mines and construction sites in Africa, and its export volume has increased by more than 50% annually. The re-manufacturing here is not simply renovation, but through 14 core processes, more than 800 tests, and the installation of intelligent modules, old equipment is “grown” with new performance. The opening of the construction machinery re-manufacturing base of the China Africa Economic and Trade Fair will further elevate this model to a new height of “green regeneration, high-end reconstruction and global service”. The government should strongly support this industry and include it in the key framework of non cooperation, giving policy support in standard certification, export customs clearance, and overseas after-sales service network construction, making it a model for Hunan’s “green overseas” manufacturing.
Thirdly, we will promote the use of customized solutions to expand the market for characteristic mechanical equipment. Hunan’s mechanical equipment exports need to abandon the extensive distribution thinking and shift towards providing solutions that are deeply adapted to local needs. Sany Heavy Industry has improved the adaptability of equipment to withstand high temperatures of 60 ? in Africa, and Zoomlion has launched a manual seeder with a price 40% lower than similar models in Europe and America, which are successful examples. In 2025, Hunan’s exports of construction machinery to countries such as Togo and Cape Verde will surge dozens of times, confirming the enormous potential of this path. Enterprises must deeply cultivate the market, provide a full range of products from high-performance engineering machinery to economically applicable agricultural machinery tailored to different climates, working conditions, and purchasing power in Africa, and provide one-stop services such as financing leasing, technical training, and after-sales maintenance. They must transform from equipment suppliers to comprehensive solution partners.
Fourthly, systematically establish a long-term mechanism for trade upgrading and industrial linkage. In terms of trade, while expanding the import of African agricultural products, it is necessary to take advantage of the zero tariff dividend and focus on the export of high value-added products such as the “New Three” (electric manned vehicles, lithium batteries, solar cells). By 2025, its exports to Africa have grown by 186%, showing strong momentum. In terms of industry, we need to vigorously replicate Longping High tech’s agricultural cooperation model of “technical training+variety promotion” and the trade innovation model of “overseas warehouse+FTN account+local currency settlement” to solve the problem of foreign exchange shortage in Africa. On the platform and channel, it is necessary to consolidate the signed projects of the China Africa Economic and Trade Expo, optimize the “end-to-end” service of Hunan Guangdong non rail sea inter-modal transportation, and truly transform “traffic” into “retention”.
Fifthly, establish a bottom line thinking for risk prevention and control. Opportunities always coexist with risks. A comprehensive risk prevention and control system covering policies, exchange rates, credit, and standard compliance must be established. Strengthen research and early warning on legal policies in African countries; Expand RMB settlement and currency swaps to avoid exchange rate risks; Using credit insurance and block chain technology to address commercial credit risks; Continue to promote mutual recognition and cooperation of standards such as “offshore testing” and “onshore testing”, and resolve technical barriers.