SNG: China's zero-tariff policy offers African SMEs a new trade frontier

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Staff WriterFor African SMEs, entering the Chinese market offers opportunities for both scale and long-term sustainability. As Africa’s largest trading partner, China accounted for an estimated $295.6bn in bilateral trade with the continent in 2024.Source: Supplied. Bill Blackie, chief executive officer of Business and Commercial Banking at Standard Bank Group.With imports from China being larger than African exports, the China International Import Expo (CIIE 2025) provides a unique platform for African exporters to showcase themselves to a significant customer base. Crucially, China recently announced zero-tariff access for all African countries (with the exception of eSwatini), offering a runway for African businesses to diversify markets, mitigate risk and build strong buyer relationships.Bill Blackie, chief executive officer of Business and Commercial Banking at Standard Bank Group, says, “Platforms such as CIIE create an opportunity for SMEs to amplify their growth. This is where possibility meets reality. As we continue to help our clients land the right partnerships, Standard Bank is enabling African businesses to showcase and appropriately position themselves and participate in the global economy.”Africa-China tradeStandard Bank’s strategic partnership with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) puts us in a unique position to deal in Chinese Renminbi (RMB), enabling businesses to make and receive RMB payments for trade settlements enabling Africa-China trade.Recent client experiences illustrate the impact of Standard Bank’s strategic Africa-China approach. In 2024 for instance, and with the support of the bank and Wesgro, the tourism, trade and investment promotion agency for the Western Cape, two South African rooibos tea exporters secured first-time entry into China through CIIE.The two producers converted their exhibition presence into initial multimillion rand contracts, which will more than quadruple over the next five years. Ugandan coffee exporters likewise concluded multimillion rand contracts with Chinese buyers after showcasing their products in Shanghai last year.Beyond these commercial wins, CIIE provided exporters with a platform to meet international buyers, study consumer demand and identify new opportunities across Asia. These businesses were able to translate global exposure into tangible contracts and long-term growt...

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