China and South Africa have signed a landmark economic partnership agreement that will provide South Africa with zero-tariff treatment on 100% of its tariff lines exported to China, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced on Friday.
Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao described the deal as a significant step to deliver “long-term, stable and predictable institutional safeguards” for deepening bilateral economic and trade ties, in full compliance with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules.
“Through the signing of the agreement on a common economic partnership, Beijing will ensure that South Africa enjoys zero-tariff treatment on 100% of its tariff lines exported to China,” Wang stated.
He further pledged China’s active support for South Africa’s “new investment initiative,” with expanded cooperation targeted in key sectors including automotive manufacturing, mining, agriculture, and new energy. The two countries aim to jointly build stable and resilient industrial and supply chains.
The agreement marks South Africa as the 33rd African nation to enter into such a framework with China. It arrives amid heightened trade tensions with the United States, which recently imposed 30% tariffs on imports from South Africa.
South African Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Parks Tau, who is currently visiting China through Saturday, welcomed the pact as a major opportunity to boost exports, rebuild industrial capacity, and strengthen trade relations.
“[The agreement will boost trade with China] while increasing exports and rebuilding our industrial capacity,” Tau posted on X.
Tau also reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to multilateralism, expressing readiness to deepen cooperation with China within the WTO framework to uphold global trade rules and promote open, inclusive development.
The deal follows the United Kingdom’s recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under China’s “Big Market for All: Export to China” initiative—the first such agreement by any country—aimed at expanding access to the Chinese market for foreign goods and services.
The new China–South Africa partnership is expected to significantly enhance South African exporters’ competitiveness in one of the world’s largest markets while reinforcing Beijing’s growing economic footprint across the African continent.
