(Business in Cameroon) – Cameroon and China have launched a new phase in their economic partnership with the signing of a framework agreement marking the first step towards the China-Africa Shared Development Economic Partnership Agreement (APECA). The signing, on December 10, at the Ministry of External Relations, begins negotiations aimed at securing full, duty-free access for Cameroonian products to the Chinese market. The initiative is designed to strengthen trade liberalisation, support manufacturing growth and boost agricultural upgrading in line with broader China-Africa economic cooperation goals.
The framework agreement was signed by the Minister of Trade, Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana, and China’s Ambassador to Cameroon, Xu Yong, in the presence of Minister Delegate Felix Mbayu. It outlines objectives, principles and operational mechanisms that will guide detailed negotiations between experts from both countries. The process includes an upcoming “early harvest arrangement”, aimed at securing zero-tariff treatment, followed by a modular final agreement built around four pillars: easier trade, more inclusive development, more resilient supply chains and modernised development sectors.
During the signing, the Minister of Trade highlighted China’s weight in the global economy. China remains Cameroon’s largest commercial partner, with bilateral trade estimated at FCFA 1,600 billion in 2024, including FCFA 1,100 billion in imports and FCFA 500 billion in exports. China is also Cameroon’s top source of foreign direct investment and represents a consumer market of 1.41 billion people.
The initiative stems from a proposal by Chinese President Xi Jinping during the opening of the 4th Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit held in Beijing from 4 to 6 September 2024. The overall aim is to liberalise trade between China and African countries by reducing customs duties to zero or 100%, thereby improving access for African goods to Chinese markets.
According to Minister Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana, “the signing of this framework agreement is the first stage of a process aimed at establishing an economic partnership oriented towards market access, the development of the manufacturing industry and the upgrading of agriculture in order to increase the productivity and competitiveness of our economy.” He added that upcoming stages will focus on enabling Cameroonian products to enter the Chinese market duty-free.
As negotiations advance, experts from both countries will work to define the specific products, timelines and mechanisms that will govern the early harvest arrangement and the modular agreement. The framework signed yesterday provides the structure for these discussions and sets the direction for the next phase of Cameroon–China economic cooperation.
Mercy Fosoh
