China has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding economic opportunities for Ghana and other African countries, following the ministerial meeting on the implementation of the Follow-up Actions of the FOCAC Beijing Summit held n Changsha in 2024.
Chinese Ambassador to Ghana Tong Defa disclosed that working teams from China and Ghana are “working very hard” to operationalize one of the key policy initiatives announced by President Xi Jinping and President John Dramani Mahama during their bilateral meeting in Beijing.
He emphasized that China has begun implementing its largest unilateral opening-up measure yet, granting zero-tariff access to exports from 33 Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in Africa including Ghana.
He noted that China’s gesture, requires no reciprocal tariffs from Ghana and only intended as a boost for African economies, not a tool for China to increase exports.
The opportunity also offers African producers unprecedented entry into one of the world’s largest consumer markets.
“From January to August alone, exports from these African countries to China grew by 9%. China does not expect reciprocal zero tariffs from Ghana. This is China extending opportunities, especially at a time of global trade tensions,” he said.
Ambassador Tong Defa indicated that, with over 1.4 billion people and an expanding middle-income population expected to reach 800 million, China is positioning itself as one of the world’s most promising consumer markets.
To help foreign businesses tap into that market, China has hosted the China International Import Expo for eight consecutive years. Ghanaian businesses have already participated, showcasing products such as cocoa and chocolate, shea products, black soap, spices and agricultural goods.
In recent years, he added, products from across Africa such as Ghanaian chocolate, Senegalese tuna, Rwandan chili sauces and Côte d’Ivoire pineapples have gained significant popularity among Chinese consumers.
He added that once the new zero-tariff policy is fully implemented, Ghana will be able to export even more competitive products to China, including, cocoa and chocolate products, cashew, shea-based items, processed rice, horticultural and agro-industrial goods.
This, he stated, will help stimulate Ghana’s production capacity, attract more investment, expand agro-processing industries, support job creation and drive overall industrial growth.
