The only African nation not taking advantage of China's offer of tariff-free trade to LDCs having diplomatic links to China is Eswatini.
Declared on December 1, 2024, the offer eliminates tariffs on all products from LDCs that have official relations with China. The State Council's Chinese Customs Tariff Commission claims that the action is intended to advance China-Africa economic and commercial cooperation, achieve common development, and broaden "unilateral opening to the least developed countries."
This new arrangement does not apply to Eswatini, the only fully recognized African nation without diplomatic relations with China. The nation in Southern Africa has ties to Taiwan, an independent island that China views as a colony. China's "One China" policy prohibits diplomatic contacts between countries with official ties to Taiwan and Beijing, and the only African country that still recognizes Taiwan is Eswatini.
By increasing exports of commodities such as minerals, textiles, and agricultural items to China without having to pay import taxes, the tariff-free deal helps participating LDCs. Under the agreement, China will waive tariffs on a variety of goods, including cereals, forage, culinary products, textiles, footwear, wood, fertilizers, and pharmaceuticals.
Through simpler access to the Chinese market, these exemptions are intended to assist LDCs in expanding their economies. Eswatini is unable to take advantage of these economic potential since it does not have diplomatic relations with China.
