China will scrap import taxes on goods from 53 African countries, including Morocco, from 1 May 2026.
Chinese President Xi Jinping announced the decision in a message to African Union chair João Lourenço and African Union Commission head Mahmoud Ali Youssouf during the 39th African Union summit.
China said all products from the 53 African countries it has diplomatic ties with will enter its market without tariffs. The aim is to make it easier for African goods to be sold in China and to increase trade.
Beijing also said it would move faster on a wider trade deal with Africa and make import procedures simpler. This includes improving a “green channel” to speed up approval for African farm products and cutting red tape at customs.
For years, African leaders have asked China to buy more finished goods instead of mainly raw materials like oil and minerals. Many African countries sell low-priced raw products to China and buy more expensive manufactured goods in return. China says the new policy should help African businesses sell more processed food, clothes and factory-made parts.
Morocco could benefit. It exports citrus fruit, seafood and manufactured goods that may now reach China more easily. The move could also attract more Chinese companies to invest in Moroccan industrial zones, including around Tanger Med, using Morocco as a base to sell to China, Europe and the United States.
China has been Africa’s biggest trading partner for more than ten years. The new measure comes at a time of rising trade tensions around the world. By opening its market to African countries, Beijing is presenting itself as a supporter of open trade and closer economic ties with the continent.
