HARARE, Jul. 21 (NewsDay Live) – Zimbabwe has secured duty-free access to the Chinese market for nearly 9,000 product categories under Beijing’s Pre-Early Harvest Initiative, opening preferential access to one of the world’s largest consumer markets.
The arrangement, which took effect on May 1, 2026, and runs until April 30, 2028, allows qualifying Zimbabwean exports to enter China duty-free under 8,949 tariff lines.
Announcing the development after Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Soda Zhemu said the initiative stems from commitments made by China during the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
“During the 2024 Forum of China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), the People’s Republic of China announced a unilateral zero-tariff preferential market access for African countries, namely the Pre-Early Harvest Initiative,” Zhemu said.
“Under this arrangement, effective 1 May 2026, qualifying Zimbabwean products can enter the Chinese market duty-free under 8,949 tariff lines for a period of two years ending on 30 April 2028.”
He said Zimbabwe had completed the administrative requirements to participate in the programme, with ZimTrade designated to issue certificates of origin while the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) verifies compliance with rules of origin.
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Zhemu said the temporary arrangement would serve as a stepping stone towards a longer-term trade agreement.
“In view of the two-year lapse, African countries have negotiated for longer-term partnership agreements. Zimbabwe has started internal processes at the preparatory stage for negotiations with China after the expiry of the Pre-Early Harvest Initiative in April 2028,” he said.
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Amon Murwira said the removal of import duties would make Zimbabwean products more competitive in China but stressed exporters must continue meeting China’s stringent regulatory and phytosanitary requirements.
“We have got over 8,000 titles. What is happening is that in China, when our products go to China, the Chinese market is removing duties for our products so that they become cheaper. That’s why it is called preferential market access,” Murwira said.
“It means our products will be cheaper in China after duties have been removed.”
He said exporters would still be required to comply with all product-specific standards before accessing the Chinese market.
“As you know, our latest qualification was for blueberries. We had one for avocado. So we still have to do the qualification. It doesn’t mean that we are not following the rules; we still have to follow.”
Murwira said the initiative presents a significant opportunity for Zimbabwean exporters to access China’s market of about 1.4 billion consumers.
The government said bilateral negotiations would continue during the two-year window to secure a permanent preferential trade agreement after the Pre-Early Harvest Initiative expires in April 2028.