China axes tariffs for African imports, but what does this mean for South African wine?

Beijing has slashed tariffs on African goods in a bid to address a trade imbalance between the continent and China, in a two-year pact that covers a diverse range of goods from seafood to minerals to, of course, wine.

The deal comes under the China-Africa Economic Partnership Agreement, which now allows products from 53 African nations to enter China tariff-free.

On 1 May, the day the new deal came into force, Shenzhen Bay port in southern China cleared 6 000 bottles of South African wine – marking the first time that the wine entered the harbour without a tariff ranging from 14%-20% attached.

The deal will initially last until 1 May 2028, meaning the wine sector has two years to bolster South Africa’s trade relations with China, and set the groundwork for longer-term trade agreements.

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