South Africa is not the only country seeking alternative export markets because of the sudden imposition of high tariffs in the United States. It’s happening all over the world, as exporters look elsewhere to sell what they used to sell to America.
China, a major target of the Trump administration’s new tariffs, has been particularly successful. The New York Times reports that, in the eight months to August, China sold more goods to Africa than in the whole of last year.
China has racked up a $60 billion trade surplus with Africa so far in 2025, nearly surpassing last year’s total, as Chinese companies redirect trade to the region while President Trump’s tariffs crimp the flow of goods into the United States.
From January to August, China exported $141 billion worth of goods and services to Africa, while importing $81 billion, according to data released by the Chinese government.
“The widening trade imbalance with Africa stems from surging exports of Chinese-made batteries, solar panels, electric vehicles and industrial equipment.
“The swell in exports to Africa, along with record volumes of goods sold to Southeast Asia and Latin America, underscores the resilience of Chinese manufacturers in finding new markets for the products their factories continue to churn out in enormous quantities.”
The newspaper said that in August, China’s exports to the United States plunged 33% while those to Africa grew 26%.
