The 9th China International Import Expo (CIIE) recently took place in Shanghai, bringing together 162 countries, regions, and international organizations. Liberia was among the participants, with four exhibitors showcasing the country's products. The Expo's total exhibition area exceeded 440,000 square meters, with a 17% increase in free exhibition space for least developed countries. This platform helps developing countries foster domestic industries and enhance their capacity for self-sustaining development.
China has implemented a zero-tariff policy for all African countries with which it maintains diplomatic relations, aiming to expand opening-up and share development benefits. This policy has created favorable conditions for African countries to leverage their resource advantages and expand exports to China. Liberia was among the first countries to benefit from this policy, with its exports to China reaching $131 million in 2025, representing a 23.9% year-on-year increase.
In the first nine months of 2026, Liberia's exports to China exceeded $629 million, an eight-fold increase year on year. Iron ore exports reached $594 million, while rubber exports amounted to $32 million. These figures demonstrate the deepening of China-Liberia economic and trade cooperation and the vast opportunities that the Chinese market offers to Liberian products. The Liberian Government is actively promoting commercial chili pepper cultivation and exports, with over 600,000 chili pepper seeds distributed to farmers.
Chinese companies have expressed interest in purchasing Liberian chili peppers for the Chinese market. With improvements in production organization, quality management, inspection, and quarantine, and market access, more high-quality Liberian agricultural products will be able to enter the Chinese market. Zero-tariff treatment offers not only opportunities to expand exports but also new prospects for investment and industrial development. However, policy benefits do not automatically translate into industrial competitiveness.
Liberia needs to continue improving product quality, expanding large-scale production, and strengthening logistics, warehousing, and processing capacity, while ensuring compliance with China's market access requirements and relevant standards. Chinese enterprises can leverage their strengths in capital, technology, markets, and industrial supply chains to participate in Liberia's agricultural production, agro-processing, mineral development, logistics, and warehousing sectors. The agricultural investment by China's Mainland Group in Liberia is a positive example, with a planned investment of approximately $100 million over the next five years.
The China-Liberia economic and trade cooperation has continued to deepen, with the two countries signing the Framework Agreement on Economic Partnership for Common Development in 2024. China stands ready to work with Liberia to better align the zero-tariff policy with Liberia's ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID), taking into account the country's resource endowments and development priorities. China welcomes more capable and interested Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Liberia.
Liberian Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung attended the CIIE and held talks with Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexian, injecting fresh impetus into efforts to deepen China-Liberia economic and trade cooperation. China will continue to advance high-standard opening-up and leverage its vast market to create more development opportunities for African countries, including Liberia. The goal is to transform resource potential into tangible development outcomes and deliver greater benefits to the peoples of both countries.
Key points
- China and Liberia strengthen economic ties through zero-tariff treatment, boosting Liberian exports and investment opportunities.
- Liberia's exports to China exceeded $629 million in the first nine months of 2026, an eight-fold increase year on year.
- China plans to work with Liberia to align the zero-tariff policy with Liberia's development priorities and explore cooperation in mining, agriculture, and infrastructure.
