UK Trade Reforms Open New Doors for African Exporters and Consumers

By ETimes

HARARE – The UK government has announced a sweeping set of trade reforms designed to strengthen economic ties with Africa, offering new opportunities for exporters across the continent under the updated Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS).

The reforms, revealed today, aim to simplify access to the UK market for African businesses, reduce trade barriers, and stimulate job creation and economic growth across the region.

Among the key changes are simplified rules of origin, allowing DCTS-eligible countries to source inputs from within Africa and still export finished goods to the UK tariff-free.

This reform is expected not only to facilitate trade with the UK but also to boost intra-African commerce, supporting the ambitions of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which represents a US$3.4 trillion economic opportunity.

“The world is changing. Countries in the Global South want a different relationship with the UK as a trading partner and investor, not as a donor,” said UK Minister for Development Jenny Chapman.

“These new rules will make it easier for developing countries to trade more closely with the UK. This is good for their economies and for UK consumers and businesses.”

The DCTS, launched in 2023 following the UK’s exit from the European Union, offers reduced or zero tariffs on thousands of products from 65 countries.

Last year, more than £3.2 billion worth of goods imported from African nations benefited from the scheme’s preferential terms.

“No country has ever lifted itself out of poverty without trading with its neighbours. Over recent decades trade has been an essential ingredient in lifting hundreds of millions of people out of poverty around the globe,” added Douglas Alexander, UK Minister for Trade Policy.

Beyond tariff reforms, the UK government will provide targeted support to help African exporters meet UK regulatory standards and navigate customs procedures.

It also aims to make it easier for partner countries to trade in services—including digital, legal, and financial—through strengthened future trade agreements.

The reforms are part of the UK’s broader Trade for Development agenda and align with its new Trade Strategy, which emphasizes growth through global partnerships and access to future-facing markets.

The announcement follows extensive engagement with UK businesses, major importers, international partners, and trade associations.