Beijing is flexing its economic muscle, announcing that it will scrap tariffs for nearly every nation in Africa—with one notable exception. Eswatini, one of the few remaining countries that maintains diplomatic relations with Taiwan, has been excluded from the deal.
This move is a transparent attempt by the Chinese Communist Party to weaponize trade policy and punish nations that refuse to bow to its 'One China' narrative. While Beijing postures as a benevolent trade partner, the reality of the Sino-African trade relationship remains heavily lopsided.
Africa currently runs a massive $102 billion trade deficit with China, a gap that widened by 65% last year. Analysts note that tariff reductions do nothing to address the structural issues plaguing African economies, such as a lack of industrial capacity and an over-reliance on exporting raw materials like oil and ore.
By keeping Eswatini out of the agreement, China is signaling that its economic 'friendship' comes with heavy political strings attached.
While some optimistic observers suggest the policy could eventually help African agricultural exports, the consensus among experts is that the move is primarily a geopolitical maneuver designed to bolster China's soft power and marginalize Taiwan on the international stage.
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