Ghana Secures 0% Tariff Deal with China to Boost Trade, Jobs, and Industrial Growth

By Best News Ghana / June 12, 2025

Ghana has secured a landmark 0% tariff deal on all its exports to China following high-level bilateral talks between Ghana and China on the sidelines of the ongoing China-Africa Summit in Changsha. The breakthrough was announced after a productive meeting between Ghana’s Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and the Chinese Foreign Minister, His Excellency Wang Yi.

With China already serving as Ghana’s largest trading partner, recording a trade volume of over US$11 billion last year, this new tariff-free access is expected to significantly bolster trade, stimulate job creation, and drive entrepreneurship in Ghana.

“This 0% tariff on 100% of goods from Ghana and other African countries will bolster trade, create jobs and produce more Ghanaian entrepreneurs,” Ablakwa stated.

The discussions also focused on strategic industrial partnerships aligned with President John Dramani Mahama’s vision for economic transformation. Key among them is the exploitation of Ghana’s bauxite resources for an integrated aluminium industry, which will be supported by modern rail infrastructure development.

In a move towards sustainable industrialization, both nations also agreed to pursue the establishment of an electric car manufacturing plant in Ghana, leveraging the country’s strategic lithium deposits. This initiative is expected to position Ghana as a hub for green automotive production in West Africa.

A Special Economic Partnership Agreement between Ghana and China is currently in the works to formalize and deepen these strategic collaborations.

The government emphasized that the Mahama-led administration remains committed to harnessing diplomacy for national development. Reflecting on the 65 years of diplomatic relations between Ghana and China, officials noted that the legacy of Ghana’s first president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, and Chairman Mao Zedong of China is alive in the growing partnership between the two nations.

This new chapter in Ghana-China relations marks a significant stride in Ghana’s quest for industrial growth, economic resilience, and international cooperation.