Ghana and China set to finalize landmark zero tariff trade deal

Ghana is on the cusp of finalising a major bilateral trade agreement with China, a move officials believe will dramatically expand market access for domestic products and bolster the country’s industrialisation drive.

The proposed “end-harvest agreement” is expected to be signed in the coming weeks, according to Ghana’s Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare. Once enacted, the deal would eliminate tariffs on a host of key Ghanaian exports entering the Chinese market, including cocoa, shea butter, and cashew nuts.

Speaking at the sod-cutting ceremony for a new float glass manufacturing facility in Accra on Tuesday, Minister Ofosu-Adjare framed the partnership as a strategic lever for economic transformation. She emphasised that the collaboration extends beyond simple trade, envisioning joint ventures in value addition.

“Our two countries will be able to refine oil, textiles, garments, and agriculture into one of the world’s largest economies,” the Minister stated. She highlighted that Chinese input and investment remain critical to accelerating Ghana’s industrialisation agenda.

The agreement represents a significant step in efforts to rebalance the trade deficit between the two nations. By granting duty-free access for Ghanaian goods, Accra aims to stimulate job creation across the agricultural and manufacturing value chains, moving beyond the export of raw materials.

If concluded, analysts suggest the pact could become one of the most consequential developments in Ghana-China commercial relations in recent years, with the potential to influence trade patterns across the West African region.

The announcement follows a broader trend of African nations seeking to deepen economic ties with Beijing, focusing on terms that support local processing and export diversification.