The Trump administration has secured 37 commercial deals in Africa valued at $25.67 billion, a move that highlights Washington’s push to counter Beijing’s growing economic influence across the continent. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Frank Garcia announced the milestone in late August, warning that Chinese exports continue to flood African markets.
The numbers tell a stark story. China’s two-way goods trade with Africa reached approximately $348.1 billion in 2025, according to China’s General Administration of Customs. By comparison, US goods trade with the continent stood at just $83.35 billion last year.
Garcia didn’t mince words. He accused Chinese state-subsidized overcapacity of threatening local industries, leaving African nations vulnerable to debt and economic coercion. Research backs up some of these concerns. A 2025 Energy Economics study found that Chinese import competition reduced productivity among African manufacturers, with small and medium-sized firms hit particularly hard.
What does this mean for Africa’s industrial future? More than 400 Chinese-owned manufacturers elished operations in Ghana alone between 2004 and 2024, reflecting a shift from trade to local production. In South Africa, Chinese automaker Chery acquired the former Nissan plant in Rosslyn this July, planning production by mid-2027.
The competition for Africa’s economic partnership has clearly intensified, with both Washington and Beijing expanding their footprints.
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