DAR ES SALAAM, March 3 -- CHINAS decision to waive tariffs on African exports to the Chinese market is a significant and timely benefit and an opportunity for African countries to grow their economies and expand trade for mutual benefit.

From May 1st, China will eliminate all import tariffs on goods from 53 African countries with which it maintains diplomatic relations, under its expanded tariff-free framework.

This marks yet another dramatic evolution from previous trade arrangements, which had extended such benefits only to least-developed countries (LDCs).

This policy shift announced by President Xi Jinping at the 39th African Union Summit grants duty-free access to one of the worlds largest consumer markets for the vast majority of...