The Government of China has upgraded its “Green Channel” policy to fast-track the customs clearance of African agricultural products, targeting a sharp reduction in transit delays for fresh produce. 

Disclosed on Monday, 13 July 2026, by Shuai Guipeng, the Deputy Director of the FOCAC Office at China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the enhanced mechanism introduces a streamlined customs framework designed by the General Administration of Customs of China to protect food freshness across long international shipping lanes.

The policy upgrade directly addresses long-standing transit and preservation challenges that have previously compromised the quality of highly perishable food goods. 

Speaking during an institutional briefing on China-Africa relations and the execution of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Summit outcomes, Mr Guipeng responded to operational bottleneck complaints raised by African trade groups. 

Citing the specific example of seasonal stone fruits exported from South Africa, the Deputy Director explained that the overhauled system accelerates traditional border clearance protocols, preventing product spoilage and financial losses for African exporting cooperatives.

A central feature of the border reform is a transition away from traditional, single-item market access talks toward a holistic “package negotiation” model. Under the previous trade regime, Chinese regulators negotiated customs entry requirements with individual African states on a product-by-product basis. 

The upgraded package approach allows related crop groups, such as citrus fruits, oranges, and blueberries, to be evaluated and approved under a single commercial group. This structural change significantly cuts down the administrative time required to secure official export permits, making market entry more efficient for diverse farming sectors across the continent.

The border trade reforms are being integrated with wider industrial support programmes to elevate Africa’s internal manufacturing capacity. 

Mr Guipeng revealed that the FOCAC Office is actively working with China’s Ministry of Agriculture to expand zero-tariff benefits for processed food imports, alongside state backing for local infrastructure projects and regional logistics belts. 

The partnership aims to help local processing firms move beyond raw crop shipments, ensuring that finished African agricultural goods satisfy China’s strict biosecurity standards and enter its commercial markets at competitive rates.

Source: People Gazette
Image Credit: The News Chronicle