South Africa’s Trade Minister Heads to China, Seeking Duty-Free Export Access

South African trade minister Parks Tau at the signing ceremony for SA's accession to the African Export Import Bank (Afreximbank) in Johannesburg on February 4, 2026. Image via @the_dtic.

South Africa’s trade minister Parks Tau will travel to China from Thursday to Saturday to sign the China–Africa Economic Partnership Agreement, which will see South African exports gain duty-free access to the Chinese market, Tau’s office said.

South Africa is seeking to boost exports amid a tariff row with the United States, its second-largest bilateral trading partner after China.

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