“Crisis With Opportunities:” China Turns to Nigeria, Other Emerging Markets as Trade War with U.S. Deepens

While the tariff war between China and the United States is intensifying, Beijing quickly makes movements to recalibrate its global commercial strategy, and Nigeria seems to be one of the main actors in this realignment.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Friday, the Chinese ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, described the last American-Chinese pricing confrontation not only as a setback, but as an opening to strengthen economic and commercial ties with African nations, in particular Nigeria.

Yu, echoing the broader diplomatic tone of Beijing, described prices as a “crisis with opportunities”, emphasizing China’s intention to deepen cooperation with Nigeria in a way that could reshape the contours of its international trade alliances.

Yu’s remarks came while China officially responded to 145% tariff hikes by President Donald Trump on Chinese products by slapping his own countermeasures, by making 84% American import prices to an amazing escalation, in force on April 12, 2025. The move marks not only a significant escalation for trade partners but also the signals of Beijing.

He underlined the promises of zero Chinese tariff for the least developed African countries as one of the concrete measures taken to support his rhetoric with action. These measures, announced during the most recent forum on China-Africa cooperation (FOCAC), already opens doors to African exports and could serve as a critical economic boost for countries like Nigeria which fight against inflation, weakened currency and an overloaded import bill.

“African nations are engaged in development and revitalization, which requires a free and open multilateral trade system and a stable and predictable global environment,” said Yu, directly connecting Africa’s growth ambitions to global awareness of China.

Beijing moves to Africa, Asia and beyond

But although the awareness of China in Nigeria can appear as a diplomatic gesture, it is in fact part of a broader and more calculated effort to reclaim its world supply chains and reduce dependence on Western markets.

Beyond Africa, Chinese President Xi Jinping has also embarked on a strategic diplomatic tour through Asia in recent weeks, meeting leaders of countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand to strengthen regional cooperation and commercial ties. These visits are part of the accelerated thrust of China to secure new commercial routes, negotiate alternative tariff provisions and advance its belt and road initiative in the middle of the increasing friction with Washington.

According to the state media, the Xi tour has focused heavily on economic agreements covering agriculture, digital infrastructure, renewable energies and transport – the sectors of China also envisaged Nigeria and other African countries.

Analysts believe that these measures represent a calculated attempt from Beijing to diversify its commercial portfolio and consolidate economic resilience, especially since Chinese exports to the United States are faced with tightening restrictions and higher costs.

For African countries, including Nigeria, this geopolitical tension is formulated by Beijing as a unique opportunity to connect to alternative supply chains and to secure the investment agreements previously dominated by American or European counterparts.

Yu said the Chinese presence for several decades in Africa had gained the confidence of governments and people, noting that infrastructure projects, technical cooperation and investment agreements continued even during global economic slowdowns.

In Nigeria, China has already funded and executed a number of high -level infrastructure projects, including railways, airports and power plants. However, criticisms say that many of these transactions came with questionable conditions, including opaque loan agreements and a limited knowledge transfer.

However, Yu insisted that China remains attached to transparency and mutual benefits, calling Nigeria “a natural partner in the journey to shared prosperity”.

He added that trade relations could be extended not only thanks to zero-valiant provisions, but also via new investment flows in manufacturing, digital technology and energy infrastructure.

At the heart of Yu’s message was a reprimand of increasing protectionist trends, which, according to him, threaten countries which depend on international trade for development. Although he has not mentioned the United States by name, his criticisms were a clear reference to the hard trade policies of Trump, who pulled a similar repression of Europe and other parts of Asia.

“Together, we will defend the multilateral trading system, will resist protectionism and promote an open, inclusive and fair international environment,” he said, reaffirming the positioning of China as a defender of globalization unlike the more island sales agenda of Washington.

Yu also used the time to renew China’s support for the creation of a more balanced world multipolar order – where all countries, whatever their size, have a word to say about global governance.

“Our common goal is to advance an equal and ordered multipolar world and universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, by building a community with a shared future for humanity,” he concluded.

The Nigeria dilemma and the opportunity

For Nigeria, China’s diplomatic opening offers both promise and caution. Although Beijing’s support can provide necessary access to capital and trade at a time when Nigeria has difficulty in low growth and low exports, there is a higher examination on the terms of Chinese engagement. Nigerian legislators and civil society groups have increasingly raised concerns concerning the opacity of Chinese loans and the risk of making strategic assets hypothenize.

However, in the absence of strong Western economic support, and in the midst of lowered capital entries, China’s proposal to deepen links may seem too appropriate to ignore.

While the increase in nationalism, protectionism of trade and changing alliances reshape the global economy, Nigeria can be forced to make strategic choices on the world powers with which to align.

Analysts have noted that the trade war in the United States-China, although disruptive, also offers Abuja the rare chance to renegotiate its position on the world market if it can navigate the emerging power game with foresight and caution.