Key points
- China has upgraded its Green Channel policy to speed up clearance of African agricultural exports.
- The initiative aims to improve market access for fresh produce and other food products.
- China is considering package negotiations instead of product-by-product market access approvals.
- Beijing is also advancing zero-tariff measures and infrastructure support to expand agricultural trade with Africa.
Main story
China has upgraded its Green Channel policy to accelerate customs clearance for African agricultural exports, particularly fresh produce, as part of efforts to expand agricultural trade and improve market access for exporters from the continent.
The Deputy Director of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Office at China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Shuai Guipeng, disclosed this on Monday during a presentation on China-Africa relations, implementation of the FOCAC Beijing Summit outcomes and China’s Zero-Tariff Policy.
Guipeng said the upgraded mechanism was introduced to address challenges associated with the long distance between China and Africa, including transportation, preservation and maintaining the freshness of agricultural products.
He explained that the General Administration of Customs of China had enhanced the Green Channel policy to make customs clearance faster and more efficient for African exports.
The official was responding to concerns raised by African journalists over delays in clearing perishable agricultural products, citing South Africa’s stone fruit exports as an example where customs delays could affect product quality.
Guipeng said China was also simplifying market access procedures by moving away from negotiating access for agricultural products individually.
“In the past, we negotiated with African countries about market access for those fresh products one by one,” he said.
“Now we are considering package negotiations on agricultural and food products.”
He explained that products such as citrus, oranges and blueberries could be grouped together under the new approach to make negotiations and customs clearance more efficient.
Guipeng added that China would continue bilateral discussions with African countries to determine which agricultural products could benefit from easier access to the Chinese market.
He also disclosed that China was working with its Ministry of Agriculture on a zero-tariff policy covering African agricultural and food products, alongside measures to support infrastructure development and industrial expansion.
According to him, increasing production capacity and adding value to agricultural products in Africa would enable more goods from the continent to access the Chinese market.
Guipeng further said the planned revitalisation of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) would extend beyond railway rehabilitation to include infrastructure, agriculture and power projects under a proposed TAZARA Prosperity Belt initiative.
He said the initiative would also include port development and inland logistics facilities to support economic growth along the railway corridor.
The issues
Agricultural exports remain one of Africa’s biggest opportunities under the FOCAC framework. However, long shipping distances, customs procedures and market access requirements have limited exports of fresh produce to China. Faster clearance and broader market access could improve the competitiveness of African agricultural products.
What’s being said
“Now we are considering package negotiations on agricultural and food products.” — Shuai Guipeng, Deputy Director, FOCAC Office
What’s next
China is expected to continue discussions with African countries on expanding market access, implementing zero-tariff measures and advancing infrastructure projects aimed at strengthening agricultural trade.
Bottom line
China’s upgraded Green Channel policy and planned zero-tariff measures are expected to improve market access for African agricultural exports while supporting broader China-Africa trade and economic cooperation.
