On January 1, 2021, the "Free Trade Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Mauritius" (hereinafter referred to as the "China-Mauritius Free Trade Agreement") officially came into effect. major.

On January 6, French Radio France Info published a report entitled "China and Mauritius Sign the First China-Africa Free Trade Agreement." According to the report, as far as the free trade agreement is concerned, this is China's first step in the African continent. In the future, China will further expand cooperation with African countries in the economic and trade field.

Reports commented that the entry into force of the China-Mauritius Free Trade Agreement is of great significance to China-Africa cooperation, and the cooperation between China and Africa will be closer.

The report pointed out that the China-Mauritian Free Trade Agreement is the first free trade agreement signed between China and an African country. With the implementation of the agreement, Mauritius will immediately obtain zero tariffs for 7,504 export tax purposes. The cane sugar produced in Mauritius will gradually enter the Chinese market. It is reported that China will arrange an annual “tariff quota” of 50,000 tons for Mauritius’s cane sugar exports for eight consecutive years, and China’s current major exports to Mauritius, such as steel products, textiles and other light industrial products, will also benefit from it.

Boudou, Director of the International Trade Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Mauritius, said, “This is the best New Year gift that Mauritius has received. If it is fully utilized, the China-Mauritius Free Trade Agreement may change the economic structure of Mauritius.”

The report also pointed out that the China-Mauritian Free Trade Agreement demonstrates China’s opposition to unilateralism and maintains and promotes economic globalization.

(Source: International Online)