Zimbabwe secures duty-free access to China for nearly 9,000 products

Zimbabwe has secured duty-free access to the Chinese market for nearly 9,000 product categories under China's Pre-Early Harvest Initiative, creating new export opportunities in one of the world's largest consumer markets.

The preferential trade arrangement, which came into effect on May 1, 2026, will run until April 30, 2028, allowing qualifying Zimbabwean products to enter China duty-free under 8,949 tariff lines.

Announcing the development after Tuesday's Cabinet meeting, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Soda Zhemu said the initiative was part of commitments made by China during the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

"During the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), the People's Republic of China announced a unilateral zero-tariff preferential market access for African countries, namely the Pre-Early Harvest Initiative," Zhemu said.

"Under this arrangement, effective 1 May 2026, qualifying Zimbabwean products can enter the Chinese market duty-free under 8,949 tariff lines for a period of two years ending on 30 April 2028."

He said Zimbabwe had completed all administrative requirements to participate in the programme, with ZimTrade designated to issue certificates of origin and the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) responsible for verifying compliance with the applicable rules of origin.

Zhemu said the initiative provides an opportunity for Zimbabwe to deepen trade relations with China while preparing for negotiations on a longer-term preferential trade agreement.

"In view of the two-year lapse, African countries have negotiated for longer-term partnership agreements. Zimbabwe has started internal processes at the preparatory stage for negotiations with China after the expiry of the Pre-Early Harvest Initiative in April 2028," he said.

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Professor Amon Murwira said eliminating import duties would improve the competitiveness of Zimbabwean products in the Chinese market.

"We have got over 8,000 titles. What is happening is that in China, when our products go to China, the Chinese market is removing duties for our products so that they become cheaper. That's why it is called preferential market access," Murwira said.

"It means our products will be cheaper in China after duties have been removed."

However, Murwira stressed that exporters would still need to comply with China's regulatory, quality and phytosanitary standards before gaining market access.

"As you know, our latest qualification was for blueberries. We had one for avocado. So we still have to do the qualification. It doesn't mean that we are not following the rules; we still have to follow."

He said the initiative presents a significant opportunity for Zimbabwean exporters to tap into China's market of approximately 1.4 billion consumers.

The Government said bilateral negotiations with China will continue during the two-year programme with the aim of securing a permanent preferential trade agreement once the Pre-Early Harvest Initiative expires in April 2028.