Harare, Zimbabwe – Zimbabwe’s trade ties with China have reached a new milestone following the full activation of China’s 100% duty-free market access for qualifying Zimbabwean products.
Effective from May 2026, the agreement marks a significant expansion of export opportunities for local businesses and reinforces Zimbabwe’s position in one of the world’s largest consumer markets.
Zimtrade, the national trade development and promotion agency, has advised that duty-free access for qualifying Zimbabwean products is now fully operational under China’s Pre-Early Harvest arrangement.
The arrangement, granted to Zimbabwe and a select group of African countries, eliminates tariffs on more than 3,800 product lines. Qualifying goods span key sectors including agricultural commodities, processed foods, textiles, leather goods, and other value-added manufactures.
“This unprecedented development is set to scale up Zimbabwe’s exports to China as businesses seize the opportunity to market their products and widen their market reach,” Zimtrade stated.
To benefit from the preferential duty-free treatment, Zimbabwean exporters will be required to obtain a Certificate of Origin (CoO) from Zimtrade.
A Certificate of Origin is an international trade document that verifies the “nationality” of a product by certifying where it was manufactured, produced, or substantially transformed. The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) will authenticate the CoO prior to export, ensuring compliance with Chinese customs requirements.
The rollout of the CoO facility represents a critical step in operationalizing the agreement and gives local exporters direct access to China’s preferential trade regime.
Access to the Chinese market is expected to significantly increase Zimbabwe’s export receipts. China is the world’s second-largest economy and one of its largest consumer markets, offering immense potential for scale and revenue growth.
The timing aligns with strong momentum in bilateral trade. Zimbabwe’s exports to China grew more than five-fold, from approximately US$256 million in 2021 to US$1.36 billion in 2025, underscoring the deepening economic relationship between the two nations.
Exporters have been urged to move quickly to take advantage of the facility, meet international quality standards, and position Zimbabwean goods competitively in the Chinese market.
The duty-free initiative directly supports the Government of Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2). NDS2 prioritizes positioning Zimbabwe as a competitive player in global trade networks through value addition, beneficiation, and adherence to strict quality standards.
By identifying high-potential international markets and supporting local exporters to meet those market requirements, Zimtrade is advancing NDS2 objectives to boost foreign currency earnings, create jobs, and integrate local goods into regional and global value chains.
The intervention also contributes to Vision 2030 — the national goal of achieving a prosperous and empowered upper-middle income society by 2030.
With tariffs removed on over 3,800 products, Zimbabwean companies in agriculture, manufacturing, and agro-processing now have a clearer path to export growth. The duty-free access reduces cost barriers, improves price competitiveness, and opens doors for new partnerships in China.
As implementation begins, the focus shifts to capacity building, compliance, and market intelligence to ensure businesses maximize this historic trade opportunity. With 100% duty-free access now unlocked, Zimbabwe-China trade relations have entered a new chapter — one built on expanded market access, increased export potential, and shared economic growth.
