CHINA’S ZERO-TARIFF POLICY OPENS NEW DOORS FOR COFFEE EXPORTS

China’s expanded zero-tariff policy for African goods is creating a major opportunity for Uganda’s coffee sector, with Ugandan coffee entrepreneur Nelson Tugume saying it offers a far more favorable business environment than high-tariff markets and is already driving rapid export growth. With China’s rising demand and new partnerships—such as Uganda’s deal with Cotti Coffee and multimillion-dollar agreements secured at the China International Import Expo—coffee exports to China have surged, prompting Uganda to boost quality and capacity through technical training and technology transfer. The policy is expected to lift household incomes across the 1.8 million Ugandan families who depend on coffee.