Nairobi, April 28 -- For a long time, we were told global trade was about efficiency: Who can produce what cheapest, fastest, and at scale. That narrative worked for a while. But today, trade is no longer just about economics.

It is about who controls access, who manages risks involved, and who quietly gains influence while everyone else is busy counting export figures. It's about leverage, influence, and positioning. In other words, the polite dinner conversation has quietly turned into a chess match.

Introduction of China's zero-tariff policy for African countries, set to take effect on 1st of May 2026, sits right at the centre of this shift.

This policy was announced by China's President Xi Jinping on February 14, granting zero-tari...