Briefing Paper

The Impact of China-Africa Trade Relations: The Case of Kenya

“The increase in China’s economic and political involvement in Africa is arguably the most momentous development on the continent today. One of the more contentious issues surrounding Sino-African relations involves trade. Although Africa and China have been trading with each other for centuries, the level and intensity of their trade relationship have increased dramatically since 2000. In the process, China has become a major destination for a range of African exports as well as an increasingly significant source of a wide range of manufactured goods imported by many African countries. The trends and patterns of trade between China and Africa suggest many possible impacts.”