By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Inside 

Since U.S President Donald Trump began his second coming at the White House, several significant changes and policies have been implemented since beginning his second term as U.S President. One of the policies implemented is specifically the 30% tariff increase in foreign trade. This has pushed countries in the African continent to strengthen their relations with China as Chinese exports to Africa have climbed to 11.3% to US$ 45.92 billion while imports from the continent fell to 9.4%. 

This increase in trade relations between China and the African continent stems from strained trade relations between China and the United States. Since Donald Trump started his second term in office he has placed a 20% tariff increase to all Chinese imports and also added new technological restrictions under the America First Investment Policy. This is added to a long history of conflicts between the U.S and China which include conflicts involving economic, military and ideological differences which have weakened the relationship between the two countries. China has never hesitated to respond in retaliation as they plan to issue sanctions of their own against America. For example in 2018 China had imposed a 25% tariff on the U.S which serves as a crucial source for feeding animals. This resulted in the US Department of Agriculture to compensate U.S soybean farmers for their income loss. China has also taken more independent measures as they have channeled billions to their tech funds. Less than a month into Trump’s second term at the white house in 2025, China moved to strengthen Africa-China trade efforts. The strengthening of these relations will aim to improve economic and trade exchanges between China and the African continent. China moves to foster trade deals with Africa specifically in the agricultural sector. In September of  2018 China hosted the Forum on China and Africa Cooperation Summit in Beijing where it was announced that China would set up a China-Africa trade expo to foster deeper agricultural cooperation. 

The Hunan province in China is seen as the center stage for China-Africa relations as it is now the host of a permanent China-Africa trade exhibition hall where biennial China-Africa economic and Trade Exhibition (CAETE) takes place. China also hosts the pilot zone for in-depth China-Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation which facilitates various initiatives aimed to overcome obstacles to China-Africa trade and investments. Some of these include support in areas of law, technology, currency and vocational training. The pilot zone is a bigger free trade zone that is better connected to Africa by way of air, water and land channels. Various companies in the Hunan provinces are well positioned in supporting China-Africa trade which will aim to capitalise on the hostility harbored between China and the U.S. 

This new interest shown by China to boost relations with countries in Africa by investing in African development is set to bring promising prospects to Africa’s future economic growth. Africa will need to seize this opportunity in order to foster sustainable development on their own in the future.