![Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Kenyan President William Ruto.]() Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Kenyan President William Ruto. Iori Sagisawa/Pool via ReutersChina’s scrapping of tariffs on imports from 53 African countries, which takes effect today, is a soft power masterstroke. On the face of it, the policy marks a major market access opportunity for the continent, and positions Beijing as a trusted ally in stark contrast to Washington, which has wielded tariffs punitively. It also comes with a warning: The omission of Eswatini over its diplomatic ties with Taiwan is a reminder that crossing Beijing’s red lines has consequences. But look beyond the headlines and the reality is that China’s new approach is unlikely to change much tangibly in the short or medium term. Still, African countries will likely welcome the reduction in tariffs, and they should. But Beijing’s magnanimity isn’t going to transform the continent’s economy. That’s going to be a lot harder. |