S. African experts welcome duty-free access granted by China

South African experts have welcomed China's decision to grant duty-free access across 100 percent of tariff lines for South African exports, describing the move as significant to the country's trade structure and industrial development.



Signed during a visit to China by South African Minister of Trade, Industry, and Competition Parks Tau in early February, the Framework Agreement on Economic Partnership lays the foundation for an "Early Harvest Agreement" expected by the end of March, which is set to grant duty-free access for South African exports to the Chinese market and create more favorable conditions for increased Chinese investment in South Africa.



Economists and trade analysts said the comprehensive zero-tariff treatment sends a strong signal of market openness and could inject fresh momentum into bilateral economic ties.



"The deal opens the door for South Africa to pursue a different development trajectory by accessing manufacturing and services technology that it currently does not have," Tafadzwa Ruzive, an economist and analyst from the University of the Free State, told Xinhua in a telephone interview.



The expert noted that South Africa has secured expanded market access, particularly for agricultural and mining products, while China has shown strong interest in investing in South Africa's manufacturing sector.