China will unilaterally impose zero tariff treatment on all products or goods exported to China from 33 African countries, Chinese President Xi Jinping said at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), Xinhua news agency reports.
The list of states affected by this measure is indicated in a statement published by the Customs Duties Committee of the State Council (Government) of the People’s Republic of China.
In particular, the zero-tariff regime will apply to agricultural products, including peanut butter.
“The purpose of this measure is to develop imports to China from relevant African countries,” – the statement says.
China also plans to create economic zones in Africa, following a similar logic to China’s first Shenzhen SEZ, “to further help modernize the continent.”