China will not seek reciprocity in its latest trade agreement with South Africa, its ambassador said, as Beijing prepares to roll out an expanded zero-tariff policy for African nations from May 1.
The deal means South African goods can enter the Chinese market tax-free without any requirement for Pretoria to reciprocate by lowering its own import duties on products from China.
“In this process, China will fully accommodate South Africa’s interests and will not seek reciprocity,” Chinese ambassador to South Africa Wu Peng said on Saturday.
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It came after President Xi Jinping gave an assurance to the African Union Summit – held in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa last week – that China would fully implement the zero-tariff measures for 53 African nations from May 1.
The Chinese envoy’s remarks have eased concerns in South Africa over a potential requirement for a reciprocal agreement that could have hurt its car industry.
Beijing’s economic sweetener comes as some African nations – facing higher tariffs in the United States – are seeking to diversify their markets. The US imposed a 30 per cent blanket tariff on South African imports last year.
