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JOHANNESBURG, Feb 6 (Reuters) - South Africa's trade minister Parks Tau signed a framework economic partnership agreement on a visit to China, a step towards securing duty-free access to the Chinese market for South African exports, Tau's office said on Friday.

"Minister Parks Tau and his counterpart from the People's Republic of China, Minister Wang Wentao, have signed the Framework Agreement on Economic Partnership for Shared Prosperity," South Africa's trade ministry said in a statement.

"This ... agreement will be followed by negotiation and conclusion of an Early Harvest Agreement by end of March 2026, which will then see China provide duty-free access to South African exported products."

South Africa is seeking to boost exports amid a tariff row with the United States, its second-largest bilateral trading partner after China.

U.S. President Donald Trump imposed a 30% tariff on South African exports to the U.S. in August, the highest rate in Sub-Saharan Africa.