Highlights:

• Beijing, Kinshasa move closer to duty exemption deal for Congolese exports.
• Agreement expected to boost shipments of soybeans, sesame, coffee, cocoa, and chillies.
• Talks build on China’s unilateral decision to scrap tariffs for 33 African nations.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and China are finalizing a duty-free export agreement expected to be completed within 60 days, Congolese Commerce Minister Julien Paluku said after meeting Chinese ambassador Zhao Bin in Kinshasa on Friday.

The move follows a September 2024 memorandum of understanding signed in Beijing granting DRC exemptions on exports to China. Negotiators from both sides have been tasked with drafting the final text, which will also involve the Agriculture Ministry to align local production with export plans.

The deal is structured around trade facilitation, inclusive development, supply chain resilience, industrial upgrading and the use of e-commerce and e-payments, according to the ministry.

Under the agreement, Kinshasa aims to ship one million tonnes of soybeans, 20,000 tonnes of sesame, 10,000 tonnes of chillies, 5,000 tonnes of coffee and 3,000 tonnes of cocoa to China.

The talks come after Beijing scrapped customs duties, without compensation, on imports from 33 African low-income countries, including the DRC.

Ronsard Luabeya