China has granted Ghana zero-percent tariff access on all exports, Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, announced Wednesday following high-level bilateral talks in Changsha, China.

The announcement came on the sidelines of the ongoing China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo, where Mr. Ablakwa met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The duty-free concession, part of a broader initiative by Beijing to deepen trade ties with African nations, aims to bolster bilateral trade and investment.

According to Mr. Ablakwa, China is Ghana’s largest trading partner, with total trade volume surpassing $11 billion in 2024. The new tariff arrangement, he said, would “bolster trade, create jobs, and produce more Ghanaian entrepreneurs.”

“This 0% tariff on 100% of Ghanaian goods is a transformative opportunity that aligns with President Mahama’s vision for industrialisation and economic self-sufficiency,” Ablakwa stated.

Talks between the two governments also explored new industrial partnerships, including the development of an integrated aluminium industry built on Ghana’s bauxite reserves and supported by modern rail infrastructure. The discussions further encompassed plans to establish an electric vehicle manufacturing plant in Ghana, utilising the country’s strategic lithium resources.

Mr. Ablakwa said Ghana and China are preparing to formalise a Special Economic Partnership Agreement to institutionalise these commitments.

“The Mahama administration is firmly committed to leveraging international diplomacy to drive economic transformation,” Ablakwa said in a post on social media. “Sixty-five years after the foundation of Ghana-China relations was laid by Kwame Nkrumah and Chairman Mao, we are delivering a new era of strategic cooperation.”

The proposed tariff-free arrangement, coupled with planned investments in critical sectors, signals China’s continued economic influence in Africa and Ghana’s efforts to position itself as a regional hub for manufacturing and trade.

Source:TheDotNews