African officials have hailed China's expanded zero-tariff arrangement covering 53 African diplomatic partners as transformative and innovative, saying the landmark measure will give a boost to Africa's industrialization, unlock broader market access and attract much-needed investment across key sectors.

Starting May 1, 2026, and running through April 30, 2028, China will offer preferential zero-tariff treatment to 20 African nations that have diplomatic ties with China but do not fall into the least developed country category.

The latest move builds on an earlier policy: effective December 1, 2024, China has granted duty-free access across all tariff lines to 33 least developed African countries with diplomatic relations with the country.

Eric Dodoo-Amoo, who heads the China Desk of the Ministry of Finance of Ghana, one of the 20 countries newly included, said China's new zero-tariff policy for Africa will give strong impetus to the industrialization drive across the continent.

In the short term, it will boost the development of Africa's agricultural processing sector, he told CGTN Digital, adding that Africa has long relied mainly on raw material exports, and the zero-tariff framework will open wide access to China's vast market.

The long-term opportunity lies not merely in expanding export volumes but in leveraging the policy window to anchor industrial planning, attract Chinese and domestic investment into agro-processing, light manufacturing and resource beneficiation, and translate raw material advantages into genuine structural transformation, he said.

"This is a very transformative and very innovative policy from China, and we are looking to see how we can explore it."

The Ghanaian official also called for African governments to take the initiative to improve infrastructure, implement tailored industrial policies and actively seize the opportunities presented by the zero-tariff access.

Feleke Kebede Bedada, minister plenipotentiary of the Ethiopian Embassy to China, said China is shouldering its responsibilities as a major country by granting the beneficial policy to Africa.

Speaking to reporters of Chinese media, including CGTN Digital, Bedada noted that China's zero-tariff initiative has long brought tangible benefits to Ethiopia, which is among the 33 countries covered by the policy since late 2024.

With the policy now extended to cover all African nations, these gains will continue to unfold, he said.