Lead
The first shipments of Kenyan avocados arrived in China this month under Beijing's new zero-tariff rule — a sign, analysts say, that the policy is beginning to deliver on its promise. The measure, which took effect on May 1, grants Africa's largest economies tariff-free access to China's market for two years. But as the trade relationship deepens, questions persist over whether the arrangement is a genuine win-win or a new chapter in an unequal partnership.
Coverage Comparison
Deutsche Welle, which reported extensively on the policy, framed the development as a positive opportunity for African exporters while also highlighting the structural imbalances. The coverage emphasized the arrival of Kenyan avocados as a tangible outcome and quoted farmers and economists who see the zero-tariff as a door opener. However, the same reports point to a record trade deficit and the concentration of benefits among Africa's more competitive economies.
Key Claims
According to Deutsche Welle, China's zero-tariff policy for African countries came into effect on May 1, giving the continent's biggest economies tariff-free access to the Chinese market for the next two years. The first shipments of Kenyan avocados arrived in China shortly thereafter, signaling early implementation. China has been Africa's largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years, with bilateral trade reaching a record $348 billion in 2025, per China's General Administration of Customs, as cited by DW. Africa's exports to China — valued at about $123 billion, mostly oil, minerals and other raw materials — fell far short of the $225 billion in manufactured goods, electronics, vehicles, and machinery imported from China. This drove Africa's trade deficit to a record $102 billion in 2025, up from roughly $62 billion the previous year, according to official Chinese data. Kenya, South Africa, and Ghana are among the countries expected to benefit, but landlocked nations face higher costs and longer transit times to reach ports. African producers must invest in testing and certification to meet China's food safety and phytosanitary standards, and the policy may help spur intra-African trade and growth in least-developed countries. Africa's richest man, Aliko Dangote, has said that China's long-term financing for major industrial and infrastructure projects is a key factor in its dominance of African business.
Perspectives
For African farmers like Kenyan coffee grower Olive Gichuri, the zero-tariff is a lifeline. "China introducing the zero tariff is very, very encouraging," she told DW. "It means better earnings for the farmers. When our coffee becomes very competitive, it means more demand and also more market for farmers." She said the policy opens the Chinese market beyond local Kenyan markets.
Lauren Johnston, a senior research fellow and international economist specializing in China-Africa geoeconomics at the AustChina Institute in Melbourne, sees the policy as benefitting certain economies more than others. She told DW it "is actually a gift mainly to Africa's stronger economies that are middle-income countries and that are sort of well-positioned to elevate exports."
Economist Adu Owusu Sarkodie of the University of Ghana points to a deeper problem: African exports remain low-value. "The export price is low because we do not add value to our exports," he told DW. "The best way to position ourselves is to get a value addition to our exports, so that we can earn a higher price."
While the zero-tariff may ease access, the structural challenge of adding value to African products remains a critical factor in whether the policy truly narrows the trade gap or merely reinforces existing patterns.