The South African wine industry has welcomed the implementation of a zero-tariff regime on South African wine exports to China, to come into effect from 1 May 2026 for an initial two-year period.
This development follows sustained industry engagement and advocacy to address structural barriers to trade and represents a significant opportunity to improve our competitiveness in one of the world’s most strategically important but highly competitive markets.
What this means:
- Qualifying South African wine exports will benefit from 0% tariffs, subject to meeting rules of origin and customs requirements. South Africa and the other 19 non-Least Developed African Countries (LDC) have a two-year window to conclude trade negotiations under an Early Harvest Agreement or trade module before the zero-tariff offer expires on 1 May 2028, ensuring WTO compliance.
- This creates a two-year window (until 1 May 2028) to strengthen South Africa’s position in China and advance longer-term trade arrangements.
- The removal of tariffs is expected to improve price competitiveness, support re-entry into the market and create renewed trade interest.
"This is a significant step forward for the South African wine industry," says Christo Conradie, stakeholder management and market access manager at South Africa Wine.
“Zero tariffs represent a crucial opportunity for South African wine in China,” says Siobhan Thompson, CEO of Wines of South Africa (WoSA). “It allows us to compete on a more level playing field and showcase the quality, diversity and value that define our industry.”
China's wine market has contracted significantly in recent years and is now roughly one-third its size five years ago. Yet it remains a highly competitive and complex market, with strong competition from France, Chile, New Zealand and Australia.
While the opportunity is significant, market development, brand investment and strong partnerships will be vital to long-term success.
Further practical arrangements and documentation requirements, including certificates of origin, still need to be finalised, and exporters will be informed directly.
We will continue to engage closely with stakeholders and provide updates as more information becomes available.