Grain SA reiterated its call to amend the current tariff-based reference price on wheat at the Southern Hemisphere's largest agricultural expo, the NAMPO Harvest Day, in Bothaville, Free State.
Grain SA has renewed its call for urgent reforms to South Africa’s wheat tariff system, warning that prolonged delays in finalising a tariff review are placing severe pressure on local producers already battling subsidised international competition.
Speaking at NAMPO Harvest Day, the organisation said the delayed implementation of proposed amendments to the current tariff-based reference price for wheat has become a major concern for the domestic grain industry.
Grain SA said a joint application with the South African Cereals and Oilseeds Trade Association (SACOTA) was submitted to the International Trade Administration Commission in June 2024 to revise the existing wheat tariff system and automate the lengthy tariff publication process.
According to the organisation, the current system no longer provides adequate protection against heavily subsidised wheat imports from major producing countries.
