The Chinese President said, according to media reports, that the customs duty exemption agreement will provide new opportunities for development across the African continent.
It is worth noting that China already applies a no-tariff
policy on imports from 33 African countries, but last year it announced plans
to extend this policy to all 53 of its diplomatic partners on the continent,
except for one country, Eswatini, which maintains diplomatic relations with
Taiwan.
China is Africa’s largest trading partner and a major
supporter of major infrastructure projects in the region through its Belt and
Road Initiative, of which Egypt is a key part.
African countries are increasingly turning to China and
other trading partners, following the heavy tariffs imposed last year by US
President Donald Trump on most countries worldwide.