BEIJING – South Africa’s Trade Minister, Parks Tau, signed a framework economic partnership agreement with China on Friday during a visit to Beijing, moving the country closer to duty-free access for its exports to the Chinese market.
The agreement, described by South Africa’s trade ministry as a step towards shared prosperity, will be followed by an Early Harvest Agreement expected by the end of March 2026, which will provide duty-free access for South African products.
Africa’s largest economy is seeking to expand exports after a tariff dispute with the United States. In August, U.S. President Donald Trump imposed a 30 percent tariff on South African exports, the highest rate in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The trade ministry said deepening ties with China could open opportunities for South African businesses, especially in mining and agriculture. Tau said the country would negotiate safeguards to protect its industrial capacity.
“We will negotiate with a view to create the necessary safeguards built into the agreement so as to protect South Africa’s industrial capacity,” Tau said.
Tau also said China had invited South Africa to an event to promote investment in its steel industry. “We look forward to attracting even more Chinese investment into South Africa, and also introducing many South African products into the Chinese market,” he added.
Wu Peng, China’s ambassador to South Africa, tweeted that the framework agreement signed on February 6 during the 9th session of the Joint Economic and Trade Committee between the two countries was “an important milestone of the economic and trade cooperation between China and South Africa.”
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