South Africa and China have signed a framework trade and investment agreement aimed at providing duty-free access to the Chinese market to more South African products and facilitating Chinese investment into South Africa.

The China-Africa Economic Partnership Agreement (CAEPA) was signed in Beijing, China, on February 6 by South Africa’s Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau and his counterpart from the People’s Republic of China, Minister Wang Wentao.

The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition said in a statement that the CAEPA covered trade, investment and multilateral cooperation, as well as cooperation in the area of new energy.

The CAEPA, the department added, was intended to enhance the bilateral trade relationship, while creating safeguards to protect South Africa’s industrial capacity. 

The signing would be followed by further negotiation and conclusion of an ‘Early Harvest Agreement’ by the end of March 2026.

“As China-South Africa relations continue to deepen, new opportunities emerge for South African businesses seeking to enter the Chinese market, particularly in sectors such as mining, agriculture, renewable energy, and technology”, Tau said, noting that South Africa already exported a number of agricultural products to China, including citrus and rooibos tea.

China would also be sending an inward buying mission to visit South Africa and invited South Africa to participate in the Country Exhibition and Business Exhibition of the 9th China International Import Expo, which will be held in Shanghai, China in November.

South Africa had also been invited to participate in an event to promote investment opportunities in the South African steel industry. 

Tau highlighted the growing role of Chinese investment in Africa and South Africa, highlighting in particular investments being made by Chinese automotive companies in the country.

“We look forward to attracting even more Chinese investment into South Africa, and also introducing many South African products into the Chinese market.”