China – Africa. China has granted 33 African countries duty-free access to its market

Beijing declares that its zero tariff policy proves a fair approach to African countries, to which it offers specific actions and encourages modernization, giving the lie to Western accusations that China is ruthlessly exploiting the continent.

However, not everyone in Africa is thrilled with the duty-free trade policy. Many economists recall that previous trade deals between China and Africa favored the Asian economic powerhouse over African countries.

– This is nothing more than expanding its influence in Africa, which will not help backward economies much. It is rather an element of China's rivalry with the United States in Africa, Tadele Ferede from the University of Addis Ababa told PAP.

Read more: China's global project is collapsing. Has it divided the world, will it bring down Beijing? >>>

Over the last 20 years China has become Sub-Saharan Africa's largest bilateral trading partner. About 20 percent exports from this part of the continent go to China, and about 16 percent Africa's imports come from China, according to data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The year 2023 was a record year in terms of trade exchange, the total trade volume reached USD 282 billion.

Africa ships to China mainly metals, mineral products and fuel – that's about three-fifths of exports. However, it imports mainly from China electronics and machines.

China has also become Africa's largest creditor, providing countries on this continent with a source of financing for mining, energy and infrastructure projects.

Back in 2005, China's share in the total public debt of Sub-Saharan Africa was less than 2%, and in 2021 this debt exceeded USD 134 billion, i.e. it increased to approximately 17%. The African countries most indebted to China are Angola ($21 billion), Ethiopia ($6.8 billion), Kenya ($6.7 billion) and Zambia ($6.1 billion)..