THE FATBOY SHOW : China ready to drop all tariffs on African imports.

China has said it is ready to drop the tariffs it charges on imports from all 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic relations.

The move, announced at a China-Africa co-operation meeting, comes as the continent is facing the possibility of increased tariffs on its products entering the US.

China is Africa's largest trading partner – a position it has held for the last 15 years – with Africa exporting goods to the Asian nation worth around $170bn (£125bn) in 2023.

A joint ministerial statement criticized "certain countries' [efforts to] disrupt the existing international economic and trade order" through the unilateral imposition of tariffs.

It then called on the US to resolve trade disputes on the basis of "equality, respect and mutual benefit".

The zero-tariff move, when implemented, will be an extension of the deal made last year for China to drop tariffs on goods from 33 African nations classified as "least developed".

Source : BBC