South Africa has signed a new economic partnership framework with China aimed at securing duty-free access for South African exports, a move officials say will help cushion the impact of steep U.S. tariffs and expand trade with the country’s largest trading partner.
The agreement was signed Friday in China by South African Trade Minister Parks Tau and his Chinese counterpart Wang Wentao, according to a statement from South Africa’s Department of Trade, Industry and Competition.
The deal comes as Africa’s most industrialized economy seeks to diversify export markets following a sharp escalation in trade tensions with Washington. In August, U.S. President Donald Trump imposed a 30% tariff on South African exports, the highest rate applied to any country in Sub-Saharan Africa, making access to alternative markets more urgent.
China is South Africa’s largest bilateral trading partner, followed by the United States, according to government data.
The signed document, titled the “Framework Agreement on Economic Partnership for Shared Prosperity,” sets the stage for deeper trade cooperation between the two countries.
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South Africa’s trade ministry said the framework will be followed by an “Early Harvest Agreement” expected by the end of March 2026, under which China would grant duty-free access to qualifying South African exports.
China announced last year that it planned to remove tariffs on imports from all 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic relations, a policy shift that followed the rollout of new U.S. tariffs globally, according to Reuters.
South African officials said the partnership could open new opportunities for exporters, particularly in mining and agriculture, while also attracting increased Chinese investment.
“We will negotiate with a view to creating the necessary safeguards built into the agreement so as to protect South Africa’s industrial capacity,” Tau said, emphasizing concerns about domestic manufacturing competitiveness.
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China has also invited South Africa to participate in an event promoting investment opportunities in South Africa’s steel industry, signaling interest beyond trade in goods.
“We look forward to attracting even more Chinese investment into South Africa, and also introducing many South African products into the Chinese market,” Tau added.
South Africa’s move follows similar steps by other African economies. Kenya, East Africa’s largest economy, announced a preliminary trade arrangement with China last month, reflecting a broader push by African governments to strengthen economic ties with Beijing.
