China–Republic of the Congo Early Harvest Arrangement for the Development of the Economic Partnership Agreement will come into effect

People’s Finance News, March 31—On November 4, 2025, China and the Republic of the Congo (Brazzaville) signed an “Arrangement on Early Harvest for the Agreement on Economic Partnership for Common Development between the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of the Congo.” At present, the two sides of China and the Congo have completed their respective domestic approval procedures. The early harvest arrangement will officially enter into force on April 1, 2026. The early harvest arrangement between China and the Congo mainly covers provisions related to tariff concessions in goods trade. Under the arrangement, 100% of product tariff items from the Chinese side will achieve zero tariffs for the Congolese side. The Congolese side’s featured agricultural products such as tuckahoe, peanuts, cocoa beans, etc. will be accelerated into the Chinese market. The Congolese side will also apply zero tariffs to some products from the Chinese side, and China’s machinery and equipment, chemicals, and other items will better support the Congo’s industrialization process. The two sides also reached agreement on matters including rules of origin and implementation procedures, as well as the setup of mechanisms. China will continue to promote the signing of economic partnership agreements with other African countries for common development, providing long-term, stable, and predictable institutional safeguards for China-Africa trade and investment, and sharing opportunities and pursuing common development with countries across Africa. (CCTV News)