Congo-China Trade Deal: Duty-Free Access for Exports

#Congo and China deepen mining ties as #US pushes rival minerals pact – includes duty-free access and promotion of local processing.

Posted on March 27, 2026 by Nanthakumar Victor Emmanuel, P.Eng Leave a comment

Two miners, one wearing a blue helmet and the other a red helmet, shake hands in front of a large map of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, showcasing mining areas. A construction site is visible in the background with heavy machinery and several workers.

Congo’s exports to China are already due to benefit from duty-free access to China from May 1 under an initiative covering 53 African countries.

The new agreement sets out cooperation on geological data sharing, investment protection and the promotion of local processing of raw materials in Congo, according to the Congolese government statement published late on Thursday.

It also includes a monitoring mechanism to ensure projects comply with Congolese law and are implemented in a stable and transparent investment environment.