First shipment of South African apples enters China under zero-tariff regime

A 24-tonne shipment of South African apples has become the first imported consignment to be cleared in China under a zero-tariff regime. Customs clearance was carried out at the Shenzhenwan port in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, in southern China, as reported by Xinhua News Agency, a TV BRICS partner.

For this product, the tariff rate was reduced from 10 per cent to zero. The apples will be distributed to retail chains and wholesale markets across China.

The Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China stated that the zero-tariff regime will enhance the competitiveness of African goods, including cocoa from Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, coffee and avocados from Kenya, as well as citrus fruits from South Africa, which previously faced tariffs ranging from 8 to 30 per cent.

The zero-tariff regime came into effect on 1 May for 53 African countries with which China maintains diplomatic relations. Since 1 December 2024, such a regime has already been introduced for 33 African states.

The measure is expected to strengthen the price competitiveness of African products and provide new momentum for China’s cooperation with the continent. Officials stated that the agreement establishes zero tariffs as a long-term institutional norm.

Earlier, the Chairperson of the South African Agricultural Produce Agency Council, Thami Sebusi, stated that China–Africa relations stimulate innovation and long-term agricultural development and that cooperation between countries through the BRICS group is crucial for sustainable economic growth.

According to the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China, trade between China and Africa reached a record level of US$348 billion in 2025. Of this, China’s imports from Africa amounted to US$123 billion, an increase of 5.4 per cent compared with the previous year.