Ghana has secured a 100% duty-free access to the Chinese market for all its exports, marking a major breakthrough in bilateral trade relations. 

The announcement came after high-level discussions between Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Samuel Ablakwa, and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the ongoing China-Africa summit in Changsha.

“China has offered 0% tariff on all exports from Ghana,” Ablakwa said in a social media post on Thursday. “This 0% tariff on 100% of goods from Ghana and other African countries will bolster trade, create jobs and produce more Ghanaian entrepreneurs.”

The agreement is expected to significantly boost industrialisation, enhance trade volumes, and generate employment opportunities in the West African nation.. 

Ablakwa noted that China is already Ghana’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade volumes surpassing $11 billion in 2024.

Beyond trade access, both nations explored broader economic cooperation aligned with Ghana’s development priorities. 

Discussions included plans to leverage the country’s bauxite reserves to build an integrated aluminium industry.

According to the foreign minister, these efforts would be supported by modern rail infrastructure to ensure efficient transport and local value addition.

A key forward-looking outcome of the talks was the mutual interest in establishing an electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing plant in Ghana, underpinned by the country’s lithium reserves—a critical mineral for battery production and green energy transition.

To institutionalise this partnership, Ghana and China are preparing to sign a special Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), which Ablakwa said would formalise frameworks for trade expansion, joint ventures, and technology transfer.

Beijing follows through on Africa tariff pledge

The trade deal with the cocoa producer comes just a day after China announced plans to remove tariffs for all 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic ties. 

The move is part of China’s effort to strengthen trade and investment ties with the continent.

China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Lin Jian, said Africa remains a “cornerstone” of the country’s foreign policy. “China will use its modernisation to support Africa’s development and strengthen unity among Global South countries,” he said.

However, Eswatini, the only country on the list that recognises Taiwan’s sovereignty, is excepted from the initiative.

Since the 2024 Beijing Summit, China’s new investment in Africa has exceeded $1.85 billion, while total financial support has topped $21 billion, foreign ministry data shows.

In the first five months of 2025, trade between China and Africa reached $134 billion—a 12.4% increase year-on-year and a record high for the period.

China’s latest move to deepen economic ties with Africa stands in sharp contrast to the protectionist stance of U.S. President Donald Trump, whose new tariff regime has triggered a trade war with Beijing and could see some African countries face duties as high as 50%.