A two-year window has opened for South African exporters to enter one of the world’s most dynamic consumer markets on highly favourable terms and the government is urging businesses to move quickly. China’s new zero-tariff policy, which grants duty-free treatment to 53 African countries maintaining diplomatic relations with Beijing, came into effect on 1 May 2026 and will run until 30 April 2028.
For qualifying South African goods exported to China during this period, customs duties are waived, a market access opportunity that Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau has described as strategically significant. “This preferential market access framework offers a strategic opportunity for South Africa to diversify into higher value-added products and expand access for agricultural, industrial and beneficiated goods,” noted the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition in a statement, adding that the policy directly supports national objectives of industrial development, job creation and export-led growth.
Tau urged South African firms to comply strictly with rules of origin requirements including product-specific conditions and the submission of valid certificates of origin to ensure seamless customs clearance. The DTIC is working with the South African Revenue Service to finalise the customs procedures and legislative adjustments required for issuing the new certificates and has established a dedicated help desk and published comprehensive compliance guides for businesses navigating the process. The policy forms part of the commitments made at the 2024 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and reflects the deepening relationship between China and African economies at a moment when trade diversification is a priority on both sides.
