New tariffs introduced by American President, Donald Trump has stirred up worry for farmers of South Africa as farmers measure it as an intense threat to 35,000 jobs in the country’s citrus-growing sector and the economies of towns in the country.
The Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa said the impending reciprocal tariffs, due to come into effect on Wednesday, will be deeply damaging to South Africa’s largest agricultural export.
The group said the tariffs would likely make South African citrus fruits cost $4.25 more per carton for American consumers. South Africa provides citrus to the U.S. market when it is out of season there.
Reports indicate that this could highly cause a shift in the country’s position as the world’s second largest exporter of oranges and the world’s fourth-largest exporter of soft citrus fruits.
The farmers’ group cited the case of the town of Citrusdal, near Cape Town, and said it faced major job losses and “maybe even total economic collapse” because it was built on exporting citrus to the U.S. It said there were other rural towns like it.
“There is immense anxiety in our communities,” said Gerrit van der Merwe, the chairman of the Citrus Growers’ Association and a citrus farmer near Citrusdal.
The new 30% tariff on South African goods, issued follows several executive orders signed by Trump targeting the country. These included suspending U.S. aid to South Africa over its land expropriation policies and perceived human rights violations, particularly concerning its stance on Israel. He also signed an order prioritizing the resettlement of Afrikaner refugees in the U.S., citing alleged racial discrimination. Furthermore, a separate order imposed a 25% tariff on vehicles and auto parts imported from South Africa, dealing a significant blow to the nation’s automotive industry.
