Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau says government will continue to engage with the United States (US) over the 12.5% tariff imposed on South African exports.
The United States Trade Representative (USTR) imposed tariffs on products from 60 economies following Section 301 Investigations of Acts, Policies, and Practices of Various Economies Related to the Failure of Each Economy to Impose and Effectively Enforce a Prohibition on the Importation of Goods Produced with Forced Labor.
South Africa is among the 41 economies that the USTR claims do not impose and effectively enforce forced labour practices.
As a result, South Africa will be subjected to a tariff of 12.5%. The other 19 economies that were found to have imposed laws prohibiting the importation of goods produced using forced labour will be subjected to a 10% tariff.
“It is important to indicate that products already subjected to Section 232 tariffs such as automobiles and auto components, and steel and aluminium, are exempted from the Section 301 tariffs.
“The USTR also published a list of products that will be exempted from the Section 301 tariffs, and these are listed under Annex I and Annex II of the Federal Register,” the Minister said.
Some of the exempted products of export interest to South Africa include, among others, macadamia nuts, oranges, limes, tea, spices, seeds, cane sugar, orange and lime juice, syrups, chemicals, critical minerals, platinum-group and precious metals, isotopes, civil aircraft and parts and components, and pharmaceuticals.
The decision follows numerous written submissions by the South African Government, Organised Labour and the South African private sector, as well as extensive consultations with the office of the USTR in May 2026 and testimony by the South African Government at the Public Hearing held by the US Section 301 Committee earlier this month.
“South Africa has indicated that it will be publishing a notice in the Gazette requesting public comments on the intent to issue a regulation to prohibit goods produced in whole or in part using forced labour and child labour.
“Government will continue to engage with the USTR on the Section 301 tariffs with a view to either eliminating or reducing the current tariff imposed on our country,” Tau said. -SAnews.gov.za
