Zimbabwe secures duty-free access to China for nearly 9,000 products
via NewsDay Zimbabwe6 min read
Zimbabwe has secured duty-free access to the Chinese market for nearly 9,000 product categories under Beijing鈥檚 Pre-Early Harvest Initiative. This arrangement, effective from May 1, 2026, until April 30, 2028, allows qualifying Zimbabwean exports to enter China duty-free under 8,949 tariff lines. Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Soda Zhemu stated that this initiative stems from commitments made by China during the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. Zimbabwe has completed the administrative requirements, with ZimTrade issuing certificates of origin and the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority verifying compliance. Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Amon Murwira noted that the removal of import duties will make Zimbabwean products more competitive in China, but exporters must still meet China鈥檚 stringent regulatory and phytosanitary requirements. The government plans to continue bilateral negotiations during this two-year period to secure a permanent preferential trade agreement after the Pre-Early Harvest Initiative expires.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by NewsDay Zimbabwe.
Must ReadZimbabwe has commissioned a specialized honey testing laboratory to enhance its export competitiveness. This development is part of broader efforts in the country, which include securing duty-free access to China for nearly 9,000 products and ARDA delivering 120,000MT as Zimbabwe prepares for El Ni帽o. Other economic activities include Econet InfraCo expanding its tower rollout and advancing solar projects after its VFEX debut, and Mutapa Gold upgrading its laboratory to reduce exploration costs and boost investor confidence. ART operations have been affected by power outages and raw material shortages, leading to a 6% decline in exports and a 26% decline in paper division volumes in the third quarter to June 2022. New grain levies have been proposed as Zimbabwe addresses climate and food security risks.
Econet InfraCo is expanding its tower rollout and advancing solar projects following its debut on the VFEX. Meanwhile, ART, a manufacturer, reported a decline in export and paper division volumes by 6% and 26% respectively in the third quarter to June 2022, attributing this to power outages and raw material shortages. Zimbabwe has also secured duty-free access to China for nearly 9,000 products and commissioned a specialized honey testing laboratory to boost export competitiveness. Other developments include the government unveiling a five-year tourism strategy, ARDA delivering 120,000MT for El Ni帽o preparedness, and Mutapa Gold upgrading its laboratory to cut exploration costs.
Must ReadA United Nations report, "The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2026," reveals that healthy diets are unaffordable for approximately 2.7 billion people globally. In 2025, 645 million people worldwide experienced hunger. The report, compiled by the Food and Agriculture Organization FAO, International Fund for Agricultural Development IFAD, UNICEF, World Food Programme WFP, and World Health Organization WHO, indicates that between 3.5 million and 4.2 million Zimbabweans were undernourished in 2025, representing about one in four people. Over half of Zimbabwean households faced moderate or severe food insecurity due to the 2024 El Ni帽o-induced drought and high food inflation. The cost of a healthy diet in Zimbabwe is 2.5 to three times that of a basic maize meal-based diet, making nutritious foods like meat, dairy, fruit, and vegetables inaccessible to many. This has led to child stunting remaining above 25% and rising micronutrient deficiencies. Across Africa, an estimated 298 million people experienced hunger in 2025, and over 1 billion Africans could not afford a healthy diet. The FAO attributes high food prices to conflict, climate shocks, debt burdens, and reliance on food imports. The five UN agencies urge governments to focus beyond food production by making nutritious diets more affordable through subsidies, increased investment in local agriculture, and expanded social protection programs.