The development is expected to bolster the global competitiveness of SA exports as the country accelerates efforts to diversify its trading partners and strengthen trade\u2011led economic growth.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Trade Analyst Viwe Ntshongwana, speaking to Channel Africa, said the significance of the agreement must be understood against shifting global trade dynamics. She noted that recent years, particularly since Donald Trump assumed the United States Presidency, have been marked by heightened geopolitical uncertainty, prompting countries such as SA to seek more reliable and less politically conditional trade avenues.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
According to Ntshongwana, the deal\u2019s immediate benefit lies in duty\u2011free access for SA goods entering China. The removal of tariffs is expected to make South African commodities more affordable and attractive to Chinese importers, thereby increasing demand for the country\u2019s exports.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Ntshongwana highlighted that SA\u2019s mineral and agricultural sectors stand to gain the most from the duty\u2011free arrangement, with the motor manufacturing industry also likely to benefit to some extent. She compared the agreement to the preferential access SA enjoys under the US\u2019 African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), noting that similar categories of goods, particularly agriculture and minerals, would now enjoy improved entry into China\u2019s vast market.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
SA currently runs a trade deficit with China, driven largely by imports of manufactured and capital goods, while its exports to China are predominantly primary or consumption goods. Ntshongwana believes the new agreement could help narrow this deficit, given China\u2019s large population and its corresponding capacity to absorb greater volumes of SA agricultural and mineral products.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Asked whether the agreement might complicate relations with the US, especially in light of the recent confirmation of AGOA\u2019s renewal by Trump, Ntshongwana argued that SA has little choice but to continue diversifying its trade partnerships. She criticised the US for behaving as an \u201cunreliable trading partner,\u201d noting that AGOA has often been leveraged for political pressure. In her view, SA\u2019s pivot toward broader global engagement enhances its negotiating position with Washington.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
China\u2019s agreement with SA follows a similar duty\u2011free arrangement signed with Kenya. Ntshongwana expects more African countries to follow suit, characterising China\u2019s trade offers as \u201csweet deals\u201d, combining affordability with fewer political conditions than those attached to Western trade frameworks.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
She added that China is positioning itself as an attractive long\u2011term trading partner at a time when global markets are becoming more volatile. In contrast, the increasing politicisation of trade under the Trump administration has pushed many countries, not just in Africa, to seek stability by reducing their reliance on the US.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Ntshongwana believes the coming years will likely see a rise in China\u2013Africa trade agreements as countries pursue economic relationships that are both predictable and mutually advantageous.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
–ChannelAfrica–<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":23417,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"news-type":[44],"class_list":["post-23416","news","type-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","news-type-finance","entry"],"acf":{"short_description":"South Africa (SA) has secured duty\u2011free access to the Chinese market following the signing of a landmark China\u2013Africa trade agreement by the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Tau. \n","published_date":null,"news_description":"South Africa (SA) has secured duty\u2011free access to the Chinese market following the signing of a landmark China\u2013Africa trade agreement by the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Tau. ","form_embed":"","author":"","image_caption":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/23416","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/news"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/23416\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26392,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/23416\/revisions\/26392"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23417"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23416"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"news-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-type?post=23416"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}