South Africa Signs Trade Agreement with China, Wins Duty-Free Access to China Market

Feb. 8—China and South Africa signed a trade agreement during an official visit to Beijing by a South African trade delegation led by Minister of Trade, Industry, and Competition Parks Tau, which took place during a meeting of the Joint Economic Trade Commission that included his Chinese counterpart, Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao.

Named the China-Africa Economic Partnership Agreement (CAEPA), it will allow South African exports to enter China duty free, while boosting investment into South Africa’s economy. China remains South Africa’s largest trading partner.

The delegation, which included senior government officials and senior managers from the Industrial Development Corporation and the South African Bureau of Standards, held talks on cooperation in the areas of industrialization, infrastructure development, agricultural trade, green energy, and technology exchange.

Commenting on the meeting, Minister Tau said the talks are aimed at ensuring that the partnership supports South Africa’s industrial policy goals, including expanding access for value-added South African products in the Chinese market, including processed foods, manufactured goods, and high-quality agricultural produce. China’s role as a major investor in infrastructure and industrial projects across Africa makes it a critical partner for South Africa.

For his part, Tau said: “As China-South Africa relations continue to deepen, new opportunities emerge for South African businesses seeking to enter the Chinese market, particularly in sectors such as mining, agriculture, renewable energy, and technology.”