Zimbabwe is intensifying discussions on export protocols with China to take advantage of the upcoming zero-tariff policy and boost agricultural exports, Minister of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Development Anxious Masuka said on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.

Responding to a question from Xinhua during a post-Cabinet briefing in Harare, Masuka said Zimbabwe is preparing for the policy, which takes effect on May 1.

Under the new policy, China will grant duty-free access to products from 53 African countries with diplomatic ties, including Zimbabwe.

"I have asked the technical teams to expedite these negotiations on various product-specific protocols with their Chinese counterparts, with a view to ensuring that we benefit from this window of opportunity offered by China, so that we can secure a market for our increasing production and productivity," Masuka said.

While Zimbabwe and China have already signed protocols for citrus, avocados and blueberries, Masuka said the process involves two distinct stages: first, negotiating specific sanitary and phytosanitary protocols for each product, and second, accessing the zero-tariff market once those standards are met.

He noted that Zimbabwe is currently at the initial stage, with plans to expand the list to include livestock products.

The minister said the policy would particularly benefit smallholder farmers under Zimbabwe's rural development programs, such as village and school business units focused on horticulture and small livestock.

"You can imagine what is going to happen in villages and schools around the country when the rural development program kicks in, where we're looking at value addition for predominantly horticultural products. So we are preparing for that by discussing these export protocols," he said.

Data show that Zimbabwe's agricultural exports to China reached $804 million in 2025, accounting for 31 percent of its total exports to China. China remains the top buyer of Zimbabwean tobacco and macadamia nuts.