Previously, China announced that it would implement zero tariffs on 100% of tariff lines for products from 33 African least developed countries with which it has diplomatic relations, effective December 1, 2024. This new policy further extends zero-tariff treatment to the remaining 20 African countries with diplomatic ties that are not classified as least developed, significantly broadening the scope of duty-free trade between China and Africa and providing strong policy support for upgrading bilateral trade and industrial cooperation.
Regarding the highly anticipated issue of import tariffs on African natural rubber, the China Rubber Industry Association pointed out that although Côte d'Ivoire, a key natural rubber producer in Africa, is included in the list of 20 countries exempted from tariffs, this zero-tariff policy applies only to specific tariff headings listed. Products under tariff headings 4001 and 4005, as well as those under code 40028000, are explicitly excluded from the tax exemption, covering all categories of natural rubber-related products. This means that Chinese enterprises importing natural rubber from any of the 20 African countries covered by the new policy-including Côte d'Ivoire-will not benefit from zero tariffs and must pay duties according to China's current statutory rates.
The China Rubber Industry Association urges all industry enterprises to thoroughly understand the details of the new tariff policy, avoid trade misconceptions, and accurately manage cross-border trade costs and compliance risks. When conducting cross-border trade with Africa, companies must strictly distinguish between duty-free and restricted product categories and precisely calculate import costs. For duty-free products on the list, companies should apply for certificates of origin and complete customs declarations in accordance with relevant regulations to fully benefit from policy advantages. For natural rubber-related products, procurement plans should be formulated based on the original tariff rates.