China and Egypt Sign Digital and Technology Deals, Advancing Chinese Standards

Elites Africa published on 2 September 2026 an article titled "Egypt and China Sign Strategic Digital Economy and Technology Deals" by Ikeh Ifeanyichukwu James.   

During Xi Jinping's state visit to Egypt, the two countries signed agreements that accelerate the digital transformation in Egypt and expand technological exchanges.  China will integrate its technology into the Suez Canal Economic Zone.  Egypt will have to align some of its digital standards with Chinese frameworks, which may create a comparative advantage for Chinese companies.

Chinese and American Approach to Egypt

 Armstrong Economics posted on 24 August 2026 a commentary titled "China and Egypt Unite" by Martin Armstrong.

The author argues that Washington never seems to understand that trade and geopolitical influence go hand in hand, citing the case of China's influence in Egypt.  The United States sees Egypt in a military context while China looks at Egypt as a commercial gateway connecting three continents.

African Solar Manufacturing May Not Compete with Chinese Imports

 The Associated Press published on 8 August 2026 an article titled "Africa Wants More Homegrown Solar to Boost Self-Reliance, but China's Shadow Remains" by Allan Olingo and Chan Ho-Him.

Several African countries are building more domestic solar manufacturing capacity, but they face competition from China's dominant global role in making solar cells and other components.  Africa is a perfect market for China's overcapacity in this sector.

Zambia Ends Raw Copper Exports to China and Elsewhere

 Business Insider Africa published on 27 July 2026 an article titled "Africa's Second-largest Copper Producer Curbs Raw Copper Exports and Makes Demands of Chinese Firms" by Awogbemila Temitope.

The Zambian government has restricted unrefined copper exports to force foreign mining and industrial companies to build local processing plants.  Chinese companies invest heavily in Zambia's mining sector and will be the most impacted by this policy change.

Ethiopia's Economic Outlook

 Nanyang Technological University published on 6 July 2026 an article titled "Assessing Ethiopia's Economic Reform and Outlook" by Rafiq Raji.  

Ethiopia's economic growth since 2022 has averaged about 8.5 percent and is projected to maintain that rate at least until 2030, assuming there are no catastrophic events such as a war in Tigray region or with Eritrea.  Inflation is trending down and Ethiopia has restructured its significant level of debt.  The country's exports are doing well.  

China Facing African Mineral Export Controls

 Semafor published on 17 July 2026 an article titled "Africa's Mineral Export Bans Are Only the Opening Bid" by Yinka Adegoke.

China controls about 72 percent of global critical minerals processing capacity, giving it more leverage than the countries that produce the ore.

This has propelled a wave of resource nationalism in Africa as governments try to move up the value chain.  The DRC, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Gabon are tightening controls on the export of raw minerals in order to force more value addition at home.  

Nigeria-China Security Partnership

 The Nigerian government posted on 14 July 2026 a press release titled "Nigeria-China Defence Partnership: Minister of Defence in Beijing to Drive Tech Transfer and Boost DICON's Local Manufacturing" by Samuel Anyanwu.

Nigeria's minister of defense is in China for high-level discussions on defense, security cooperation, and a strategic partnership.  The purpose of the visit is to deepen bilateral defense cooperation, fast-track the modernization of Nigeria's armed forces, and radically boost Nigeria's local military production capabilities.

Discussions have centered on concrete technology transfer, technical capacity building, and establishing joint production lines in Nigeria in direct partnership with the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON).  

Namibian President Visits China: Focus on Critical Minerals and Manufacturing

 Pan African Television posted on 8 July 2026 an article titled "Namibia's President Visits China for Talks on Minerals, Green Hydrogen, and Manufacturing" by Victoria Wilson.

Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is on a state visit to China.  Her priority is attracting investment in minerals processing and downstream manufacturing.  Namibia aims to process 57 percent of its exported minerals locally by 2030.

Is Chinese Manufacturing in Morocco a Platform to Avoid US and EU Tariffs?

 The ChinaMed Project published on 12 June 2026 an analysis titled "China's Industrial Footprint in Morocco: The Case of Tanger Tech" by Imane Ezzehouany and Amanda Chen.

As Chinese manufacturers expand their presence in Morocco, concern is mounting in Europe and the United States that the Kingdom may become an "industrial platform" for China to circumvent US and EU trade restrictions.

Tanger Tech City is an emerging Chinese platform for green manufacturing driven by a convergence of interests between China and Morocco.  

South Africa Tightens Controls on Certain Chinese Imports

 Africa Business Insight published on 29 May 2026 an article titled "South Africa Tightens Controls on Chinese Imports to Protect Local Industry" by Nana Oye Ankrah.

South Africa is introducing stricter controls on certain Chinese imports to curb the influx of low-cost and non-compliant products that undermine domestic production.  South Africa is also taking these steps to balance trade with China, which consistently maintains a large surplus.

China Forces Europe to Reconsider Industrialization in Africa

 Semafor published on 25 May 2026 an article titled "How China Forced Europe to Reconsider Africa's Industrialization" by W. Gyude Moore.

Chinese dominance in a number of industrial sectors is forcing Europe to worry that it may face deindustrialization and to rethink the need to support industrialization in Africa.

China's Zero Tariff Policy for Africa: An Opportunity Not a Guarantee

 B & FT Online posted on 29 April 2026 an article titled "Africa-China 2.0 with Paul Frimpong: Zero Tariff, Zero Excuses: Africa's Moment with China Has Arrived."

China's much heralded zero tariff policy for 20 more African countries, raising the total to 53 out of 54 countries on the continent, is an opportunity but will not guarantee significantly more African exports to China.  African countries must develop new trade strategies to take advantage of the opportunity and meet remaining Chinese quality and safety standards.   

Ethiopia Says It Attracted $13 Billion in Mostly Chinese Investment

Ethiopia's Institute of Foreign Affairs posted on 30 March 2026 an article titled "Ethiopia's Investment Surge and the Strategic Repositioning of Addis Ababa as Africa's Diplomatic-Economic Nexus" by Kena Seyife.  

The "Invest in Ethiopia 2026 Forum" attracted over 800 investors from more than 50 countries and secured over $13 billion in investment commitments.  China's Ming Yang Smart Energy Group Ltd. committed to invest $10 billion in green ammonia and electrical equipment.  The article cautions that Ethiopia's success will depend on its ability to translate investments into tangible economic transformation. 

Comment: Ethiopia is facing several internal security challenges that must be addressed before this kind of investment actually materializes.  It will be important to monitor how many of these commitments valued at $13 billion result in completed projects.    

China's Zero Tariffs in Africa Likely to Have Minimal Impact (in French)

 Thierry Pairault posted a working paper on 30 March 2026 titled "Tarif zero: Bruxelles face a Pekin."

Beginning on 1 May 2026, China will implement a zero-tariff policy for African countries.  Pairault argues that in the few sectors where the zero tariff could theoretically encourage African exports of processed or manufactured goods to China, Beijing has little interest in allowing them to develop as they would compete with actively protected industries.  He then demonstrates that the import structures of the European Union and China shed light on this asymmetry.

How Does Africa Benefit from China's Zero Tariffs?

 Kenya's The Star published on 24 March 2026 an article titled "Africa Needs a Harmonised Strategy to Enjoy China's Zero-Tariff Treatment, Expert Reveals" by Rading Biko.

To take full advantage of China's new zero tariff policy, African countries need to pursue a harmonized strategy, meet Chinese import standards, and encourage value addition to African exports.  

China's Manufacturing Transfer Not Benefiting Africa Much

 The African News Agency published on 16 March 2026 an article titled "Africa's Manufacturing Moment and Why It Keeps Slipping Away" by Chloe Maluleke.

Africa accounts for only 2 percent of manufacturing value added and 1.3 percent of global manufacturing exports.  As companies move manufacturing out of countries like China, North Africa is capturing some of the shift, but sub-Saharan Africa is largely missing out.

Africa continues to export raw materials and import manufactured products.  China's zero tariffs on African goods beginning May 1st are not likely to change significantly the structural problems of processing capacity, power shortages, and harmonized trade frameworks. 

Chinese Company Expands Satellite Cooperation with Morocco and Algeria

 Europe Says posted on 10 March 2026 an article titled "China's Geely Expands Satellite Partnerships with Morocco, Algeria."

China's Geely Auto and its aerospace division, Time Space Daoyu Technology Company, signed separate partnership agreements with Morocco and Algeria to strengthen satellite-related technology and infrastructure.

In Algeria, the cooperation focuses on building domestic aerospace manufacturing capacity.  In Morocco, the emphasis is on satellite connectivity services rather than manufacturing.

Artificial Intelligence in Africa and Cooperation with China and US

 Nanyang Technological University posted on 24 February 2026 an article titled "The State of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Africa" by Amit Jain.

This is a nice summary of the current state of artificial intelligence in Africa, the sectors that are most likely to benefit in the coming years, and the countries that are best positioned to take advantage of it. 

The Georgetown Journal of International Affairs published on 7 February 2026 an article titled "The United States, China, and AI Competition in Africa: Lessons for the Global South" by Alice Chen and Neel U. Sukhalme.  

This article (also posted below on 11 February) is a useful addition to this topic, which is fast becoming important to Africa's development.  

Ghanaian Professor Calls for Reassessment of Africa's Relations with China

 The Ghana News Agency posted on 18 February 2026 an article titled "Africa-China Relations Need Critical Review--Prof. Amoah" by Edward Acquah.

Prominent associate professor of political science at the University of Ghana, Lloyd George Adu Amoah, recently gave a key public lecture on China-Africa relations.  Amoah, who has a doctorate from Wuhan University in China, called for a critical reassessment of the relationship. He described current China-Africa relations as "heavy on form and very light on substance."

Amoah identified three phases of China-Africa relations with the last one beginning about 2011 when China became the world's second largest economy.  This phase has been marked by China's "obsession with the maintenance of its new superpower status."  He warned that trade with China may lock Africa into a source for commodities and result in diminished manufacturing opportunities.  

Amoah added Chinese foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows constitute less than 5 percent of its global FDI stock and they are concentrated in resource rich countries and sectors such as mining and construction.

Possible Chinese Supported Military Equipment Manufacturing in Egypt

 Modern Diplomacy published on 7 February 2026 a commentary titled "Egypt Seeks Chinese Defense Tech, Manufacturing Base in Cairo" by Nadia Helmy, Beni Suef University Egypt.

The author suggests that Egypt is seeking Chinese technology and assistance to manufacture locally advanced radar and missile systems and unmanned aerial vehicles.  Egypt sees itself as becoming a regional manufacturing hub for advanced military weapons.