Zimbabwe Secures Duty-Free Market Access for 8,949 Product Categories in China

The Government of Zimbabwe has secured duty-free access to the Chinese market for 8,949 product categories under the Pre-Early Harvest Initiative. This arrangement, which took effect on May 1, 2026, and runs until April 30, 2028, stems from commitments made by China during the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.

To implement the program, ZimTrade will issue certificates of origin while the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority verifies compliance with rules of origin. Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Amon Murwira noted that removing duties makes Zimbabwean products cheaper and more competitive in China, though he cautioned that producers must still meet strict Chinese regulatory and phytosanitary standards.

Zimbabwean officials are currently initiating preparatory processes to negotiate a permanent, long-term trade agreement before the current two-year initiative expires in 2028.