China is set to grant duty-free entry to selected South African products under a trade agreement nearing completion, marking a strategic shift by Pretoria as it looks to diversify export markets amid strained relations with the United States.
South Africa’s trade ministry confirmed that Trade Minister Parks Tau is travelling to China to finalise and sign the deal, which is expected to give South African exports preferential access to the Chinese market while encouraging increased Chinese investment. Officials did not disclose which sectors will be covered under the agreement.
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The move comes as South Africa intensifies efforts to expand its export base and reduce reliance on traditional Western markets.
China has already emerged as South Africa’s largest single-country trading partner, overtaking the European Union in 2023.
Exports to China are largely made up of minerals and agricultural products, industries that stand to benefit significantly from reduced tariff barriers.
The agreement unfolds against a backdrop of deteriorating trade relations with the United States, South Africa’s second-largest trading partner by country.
In August last year, Washington imposed tariffs of up to 30% on certain South African goods, raising concerns in Pretoria about potential job losses and long-term market access.
Diplomatic and trade frictions between South Africa and the administration of US President Donald Trump have continued to escalate, casting uncertainty over South Africa’s preferential treatment under US-backed trade frameworks.
While efforts to renegotiate trade terms with Washington are ongoing, progress has remained unclear.
As a result, South Africa has increasingly deepened economic ties with non-Western partners, including China, fellow BRICS members, and countries across the Global South.
Analysts say duty-free access to the Chinese market could help stabilise export revenues, support manufacturing growth, and attract investment into value-added industries.
With uncertainty lingering over future trade relations with the US, Pretoria appears focused on broadening its economic options and reducing exposure to sudden trade policy shifts.
