Zero Tariffs Don’t Mean Open Floodgates for Cheap Goods – Prof. Quartey Cautions Gov’t

Professor Peter Quartey, Director of the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) at the University of Ghana, has urged government to implement firm safeguards to protect local industries under the zero-tariff trade arrangement with China.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Newsnight on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, Prof. Quartey welcomed the initiative but warned that without strict regulation, the policy could expose Ghana’s markets to a flood of cheap and substandard imports that could cripple domestic production.

“The fact that there is zero tariff doesn’t mean we should allow cheap, low-quality products to enter our market,” he cautioned.
“We have to regulate and ensure that all products meet the necessary standard protocols so that we get value for money.”

He further emphasized that while the deal could enhance trade and improve consumer access to goods, government must play a proactive role in empowering local businesses to compete fairly with foreign firms.

“Where this arrangement benefits local industries, that’s where government must step in — through capacity building, technology support, and access to finance — to help local producers match Chinese firms entering the market,” he added.

Background

Prof. Quartey’s remarks follow President John Dramani Mahama’s announcement that Ghana and China are finalising a zero-tariff trade agreement by the end of October 2025.

During bilateral talks in Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping reaffirmed China’s commitment to helping Ghana harness its resource wealth for sustainable development under Beijing’s expanded zero-tariff policy for African countries.

The policy grants African nations duty-free access to the Chinese market for thousands of goods, aimed at deepening economic cooperation and promoting fairer trade relations between China and the continent.

However, analysts like Prof. Quartey insist that effective regulatory enforcement, quality control, and industrial support will determine whether Ghana truly benefits from the agreement — or becomes merely a destination for imported goods.