Angola: China scraps customs duties on Angolan products (May 2026)
Since 1 May 2026, China has applied a zero customs tariff on goods imported from the 53 African countries with which it maintains diplomatic relations, including Angola. Only Eswatini, which diplomatically recognises Taiwan, is excluded from this measure.
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From 1 May 2026, China removed all its customs duties on products imported from 53 diplomatically recognised African countries, including Angola. The measure was presented by the Chinese authorities as a step towards deepening economic cooperation with the African continent.
For Angola, whose trade with China remains dominated by oil (already duty-free on this market), the direct effect of the measure on that product is limited. Its interest lies more in diversification: it opens, in principle, easier access to the Chinese market for Angolan agricultural, fishing and agro-industrial sectors that are still underdeveloped as exporters.
The announced timetable is one of immediate application from 1 May 2026, with no mention of a transition period. The observers cited nonetheless stress that the concrete benefits for Angola will depend on its production and industrial capacity to meet Chinese demand, failing which the country would remain dependent on exporting raw materials.
This measure concerns Angolan exporters to China, not importers of Chinese goods into Angola: the formalities and duties applied on arrival of Chinese goods in Angolan territory, managed by the Administração Geral Tributária (AGT), are not changed by this announcement.
What it changes for an importer
This measure changes nothing about the cost or formalities of importing Chinese goods into Angola: it concerns the opposite direction of trade. For a Sorva client importing from China, the information remains useful in that it reflects closer Sino-Angolan trade ties, with potentially, over time, greater attention paid to bilateral customs procedures. No separate announcement of simplified import formalities in Angola has been identified to date; Sorva continues to monitor developments on the AGT side and will pass on any concrete update for importers.
The certifications your country requires
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West and Central Africa Mandatory pre-shipment inspection
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Several West and Central African countries require a pre-shipment inspection by a government-appointed body, such as Bureau Veritas (BIVAC), Cotecna or SGS depending on the country, which issues the certificate required for customs clearance.
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- Pro forma invoice and packing list prepared with the factory
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