China has upgraded its Green Channel policy to accelerate customs clearance for African agricultural exports, particularly fresh produce, as part of efforts to expand agricultural trade and improve market access for exporters from the continent.
Mr Shuai Guipeng, Deputy Director of the FOCAC Office at China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, disclosed this on Monday during a presentation on China-Africa relations, implementation of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Summit outcomes and China’s zero-tariff policy.
Guipeng said the enhanced mechanism was introduced to address challenges associated with the long distance between China and Africa, including transportation, preservation and maintaining the freshness of agricultural products.
He explained that the General Administration of Customs of China had strengthened the Green Channel policy to ensure faster and more efficient customs clearance for African agricultural exports.
Guipeng was responding to concerns raised by African journalists over delays in clearing fresh produce, citing stone fruits exported from South Africa, where lengthy customs procedures could affect product quality because of their perishable nature.
He said China was also simplifying market access procedures by shifting from negotiating access for agricultural products individually to adopting a broader package approach.
“In the past, we negotiated market access with African countries product by product.
“Now we are considering package negotiations covering a range of agricultural and food products,” he said.
According to him, products such as citrus fruits, oranges and blueberries could be grouped together under the new framework, making negotiations and customs clearance more efficient.
Guipeng said China would continue bilateral discussions with African countries to identify agricultural products that could benefit from expanded access to the Chinese market.
He also disclosed that China was engaging its Ministry of Agriculture on implementing a zero-tariff policy for African agricultural and food products, alongside support for infrastructure development and industrial expansion.
According to him, increasing Africa’s production capacity and promoting value addition would enable more agricultural products from the continent to access the Chinese market.
Guipeng further revealed that the planned revitalisation of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) would extend beyond railway rehabilitation to include infrastructure development, agricultural projects and power generation under a proposed TAZARA Prosperity Belt initiative.
He said the initiative would also involve the development of ports and inland logistics facilities to stimulate economic growth along the railway corridor.
“The measures reflect China’s commitment to strengthening China-Africa agricultural cooperation, expanding African exports and promoting shared economic development,” he said. (NAN)
