Paper short abstract:

This paper examines how COVID-19 has restructured Sino-African trade relations. As limited capital and human mobility affected trade flows, African and Chinese traders sought creative ways to continue their business. The paper identifies some of the creative methods implemented.

Paper long abstract:

In 2020, the flow of Chinese imports to Nigeria was threatened due to reports of violence that Nigerians in Guangzhou were facing. Geoffrey Onyeama, the Nigerian Foreign Minister, admonished the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Zhou Pingjian. Beijing issued a statement promising to investigate the issue and ensure continued prosperous relations between both countries. The message was clear. China had to change its treatment of Nigerians on its soil or lose $12 billion of export revenue.

COVID-19 has reshaped the Sino-African relationship. Capital and Human mobility between Africa and China virtually halted as the pandemic spread due to strict travel prohibitions on the part of the Chinese. This situation restructured the relationship between both regions politically and economically. As a result, African and Chinese traders sought creative ways to continue their business. Using case studies, this paper identifies some creative methods implemented by Chinese and African traders operating out of Guangzhou and Africa. The data will be quantitative to track trade flows and qualitative to track sentiment, perception and personal actions.