Accra: China has agreed to offer a zero percent tariff on all Ghanaian exports as part of a broader trade and economic partnership, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Foreign Affairs Minister, has revealed. This follows a high-level gathering in Changsha where concrete steps were taken to advance the outcomes of the 2024 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
According to Ghana News Agency, as part of the gathering, China and 53 African countries, including Ghana, along with the African Union Commission, jointly endorsed the Changsha Declaration on Upholding Solidarity and Cooperation of the Global South. The move reaffirms their commitment to multilateralism, sustainable development, and deeper economic cooperation. The meeting also sought to accelerate the full implementation of the Beijing Declaration on Jointly Building an All-Weather China-Africa Community with a Shared Future for the New Era.
Mr. Ablakwa, who met with China's Foreign Minister Mr Wang Yi, described the bilateral meeting as 'productive and impactful,' noting that China remained Ghana's largest trading partner, with trade volumes exceeding US$11 billion in 2024. He said the new tariff-free arrangement, which applies to 100% of goods from Ghana and other African countries, is expected to 'bolster trade, create jobs, and produce more Ghanaian entrepreneurs.'
The discussions also covered major industrial projects aligned with President Mahama's development vision, including an integrated aluminium industry driven by Ghana's bauxite resources and supported by modern rail infrastructure. According to Mr. Ablakwa, both countries have also agreed to work towards establishing an electric vehicle manufacturing plant in Ghana, leveraging the country's strategic lithium deposits.
He announced that Ghana and China would soon sign a Special Economic Partnership Agreement to formalize this new phase of bilateral cooperation. The Foreign Affairs Minister emphasized that President Mahama's administration was 'firmly committed to leveraging diplomacy for the transformation of our dear country.'
