China grants Botswana zero-tariff access
Lewanika Timothy | Tuesday June 17, 2025 11:52
The move forms part of Beijing’s broader effort to strengthen economic ties with Africa and increase the continent’s share of exports to China.
The zero-tariff arrangement will allow a wide range of goods originating from Botswana and other qualifying least-developed countries (LDC) on the continent to enter China duty-free. Whilst the full scope of eligible products is yet to be published, sectors expected to benefit include beef, leather, horticultural produce, textiles and other non-mineral goods.
The new access comes just days after Botswana signed a beef export protocol with China, paving the way for local meat products to tap into one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing consumer markets. The zero-tariff offer is expected to further enhance the competitiveness of Botswana’s exports in China, particularly as the country works to diversify its trade profile beyond diamonds.
Trade between Botswana and China has grown steadily over the past two decades, although it remains heavily skewed in China’s favour, but the new trade opportunity will give Botswana a chance to improve its trade balance between itself and China.
The trade benefit comes as Botswana’s non-mineral export sector has historically been facing challenges, including high-production costs, limited access to finance, underdeveloped value chains, and bottlenecks at key trade corridors. The government has announced plans to improve agro-processing, industrial capacity, and export competitiveness under its national transformation agenda, but progress has been uneven.
China’s zero-tariff scheme applies to 21 African LDCs and is part of its pledge to import $300 billion-worth of African goods by 2035. Botswana’s Ministry of Trade is expected to release details on the eligible products and administrative requirements for local exporters in the coming weeks.