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As export deals with China come to its aid, Africa ships lemons
- Long-discussed agreements have been struck to ease the obligations imposed on African traders to enter the Chinese market
- It follows China’s promise to open ‘green lanes’ for agricultural products, speed up inspection and quarantine, and lift tariffs on more products
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An easing of trade rules for some African countries by the Chinese customs authorities is allowing more agricultural products from the continent into China.
South Africa, Kenya and Zimbabwe are among the African countries that have recently signed revised protocols allowing them access to the lucrative Chinese consumer market.
The move is in line with Chinese President Xi Jinping’s promise during the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) last year to open “green lanes” for agricultural products into China, speed up inspection and quarantine procedures, and broaden the products on which no tariff is charged.
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South Africa, one of the largest lemon producers, can now export the fruit after China removed a cold-storage requirement, in place to prevent pests, that blocked many of its products. It has opened a market that is expected to generate millions of dollars in new revenue.
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Top Chinese diplomat tours East Africa to promote peace, ensure stability for belt and road allies
Top Chinese diplomat tours East Africa to promote peace, ensure stability for belt and road allies
Last month, South Africa shipped its first batch of 100,000 lemons to China. It also in December signed a protocol with China on the export of pears, which is expected to increase the 22 per cent share of the country’s exported pears that go to the Far East.
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